And as names like Idris Elba continue to pop up in conversations surrounding the casting of the next Bond, we have a list of female stars that we think should be thrown into the mix.
Here are ten women that would not only reinvent the iconic role, but would take the character to new and exciting heights...
Angelina Jolie
The mother of six has proven time and again that she is the ultimate action star. From Lara Croft to Evelyn Salt, Angelina can bring dimension to any character while taking names and coming out on top.Photo: © Getty Images
Emilia Clarke
In order to play 007, one has to be both charming and trustworthy. Emilia has conquered both those characteristics playing Daenerys Targaryen on the hit science fiction series Game of Thrones.Photo: © Getty Images
Thandie Newton
The British actress has starred in her fair share of action flicks - from Mission: Impossible II to The Chronicles of Riddick. She knows how to handle weaponry and put baddies in their place.Photo: © Getty Images
Jennifer Garner
If you watched Alias you know firsthand how skilled Jennifer Garner is at portraying a spy. Throughout the hit series she managed to play a double agent, deal with heartbreak and overcome deadly threats without breaking a sweat.Photo: © Getty Images
Tatiana Maslany
This Canadian star knows a thing or two about going undercover. Not only did she play multiple characters with varying personalities on Orphan Black, but she often played one character posing as another. Her ability to adapt to any role makes Tatiana the perfect person to step into the shoes of Bond.Photo: © Getty Images
Doona Bae
Any actor that carries the Bond badge has to be skilled in hand-to-hand combat. Viewers of the Netflix series Sense8 have seen Doona in action and know that she can hold her own in any altercation.Photo: © Getty Images
Lauren Cohan
In a show that sees many of its strongest characters killed off, The Walking Dead's Maggie Greene is still standing. Lauren has helped make her character one of the strongest females on television and thanks to her storied resume filled with action-packed roles (think Chuck and Supernatural), the British actress is primed and ready for Bond.Photo: © Getty Images
Rosamund Pike
The Oscar-nominated star can play both sweet and innocent, like Jane Bennet in Pride & Prejudice, and vicious and violent, like Amy Dunne in Gone Girl.She also has some history with the spy franchise, having been a Bond girl in 2002's Die Another Die. And while she didn't uphold the film's title and did in fact die, that's not to say she can't remerge as another character, namely Bond.
Photo: © Getty Images
Sandra Bullock
The Oscar winner would bring a dose of humour to the Bond character, all while kicking butt and saving the day. She also has the innate ability to connect with audiences, which is essential when it comes to taking on such an iconic role.Photo: © Getty Images
Carrie-Anne Moss
The star of The Matrix knows how to pack a punch while embodying elegance and mystery - a few of the requirements needed to master the role of Bond. Also, it's about time a Canadian got the chance to save the world as 007.Photo: © Getty Images
