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Speculation swirls around the new James Bond

<p dir="ltr">With Daniel Craig sipping his last shaken-not-stirred martini, the identity of the next James Bond continues to be one of Hollywood’s greatest mysteries.</p> <p dir="ltr">After years of rumours and speculation, top candidate Idris Elba is out of the running, with Hollywood sources revealing he is prioritising other roles.</p> <p dir="ltr">As a result, the new top contender is 26-year-old <em>Spiderman </em>star Tom Holland - with Ladbrokes placing odds of 40/1 on him - though it’s unclear whether he will take on the challenge.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Tom Holland might not be the traditional Bond type, but the odds suggest he has a slight chance of replacing Daniel Craig, and plenty of punters seem to think the same,” Ladbrokes’ Alex Aparti told <em><a href="https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/1655037/next-james-bond-tom-holland-spider-man-daniel-craig-007-odds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Express UK</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though Ladbrokes are still placing <em>Superman </em>star Henry Cavill as the favourite for the next Bond, helped by the fact he auditioned for the role back in 2005 and lost out to Craig, recent reports have revealed that producers are looking to cast an actor who is under 5’10” (178cm) and looks younger than previous Bonds, per <em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/celebrity-photos/producers-have-strengthened-rumours-tom-holland-next-007/news-story/7b99d27f81c29f50dad395ed95180993" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite these new reports, bookies have rounded out the list of likely picks for the next 007 with former <em>Bridgerton </em>heartthrob Regé-Jean Page, Tom Hardy of <em>Mad Max </em>and <em>Venom </em>fame, and Scottish <em>Game of Thrones</em> star Richard Madden.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The race to replace Daniel Craig is firmly on,” Apati said.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the franchise’s producers, the next Bond film is unlikely to be in cinemas until 2025, with the eighth Bond actor to be announced in the next year.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-9ee6fc2c-7fff-0370-7e4d-78c1ed9cd7b9"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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Travel guide to the island where Napoleon was exiled

<p>In 1814, and following a disastrous campaign in Russia, a battered Emperor Napoleon was forced into exile on the Italian island of Elba. He stayed less than a year before escaping and returning to Europe with dreams of victory, but that too would end in defeat at Waterloo. Looking at the gorgeous island today, it’s hard to imagine why he would have wanted to leave…</p> <p><strong>Where is it?</strong></p> <p>Elba is part of the Tuscany region and sits in the Tyrrhenian Sea. It’s around 10 kilometres off the west coast of Italy and flanked on the opposite side by the French island of Corsica. It is the third largest of Italy’s islands (behind Sardinia and Sicily) and the largest island of the Tuscan archipelago.</p> <p><strong>What should I do?</strong></p> <p>As much or as little as you like! The island’s 147 kilometres of coastline are dotted with some of the most gorgeous beaches in Italy. There are almost 200 of them, ranging from long sandy arcs to white pebbled coves and tiny bays accessible only by boat, where you can swim, snorkel or dive in the startling blue ocean. On land, the island’s rugged terrain makes it a paradise for hiking and mountain biking, or you can take a chairlift to the top of Mount Capanne, the highest peak.</p> <p>The island is also rich in history. You can visit Napoleon’s two villas, which have been beautifully maintained with impressive art collections and manicured formal gardens. But Elba was on the map long before his arrival and has been occupied by the Etruscans, Ligurians, Greeks, Romans, French, Spanish, English and more, who have all left their own unique stamp on the island. Finish your days with a glass (or two) of the very good local wine and a seafood feast pulled straight from the ocean.</p> <p><strong>When should I go?</strong></p> <p>Avoid August when the island can be completely packed with Italian tourists – you’ll be lucky to find a hotel room. For the rest of the year, it’s blissfully quiet and you can find yourself pottering around deserted beaches and driving winding coastal roads without another visitor in sight.</p> <p><strong>How can I get there?</strong></p> <p>Take a ferry from the mainland town of Piombino and arrive in the charming capital of Portoferraio. The journey takes around an hour and must be one of the most beautiful ferry crossings in the world. There is also a small airport on the island and you can fly from Florence, Pisa, Milan, Lugano, Bern or Zurich.</p> <p>Have you ever visited the Italian island of Elba? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

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8 actors who could be the next James Bond

<p>He’s one of the most famous characters in film and literature history, so it comes as no surprise that there’s huge demand for the role of James Bond. From silver screen favourites to television stars – and even one starlet – it seems everyone wants to say the iconic words, “Bond. James Bond.” Let’s take a look at all the hopefuls vying for the classic role, and just how good their chances are.</p> <p><strong>1. Idris Elba</strong></p> <p>The 43-year-old rose to fame on crime drama <em>The Wire</em>, and has since gone on to establish himself as a force in the world of action films, appearing in <em>American Gangster</em>, <em>Thor</em>, <em>Prometheus</em> and starring in the BBC series <em>Luther</em>. Elba would be the first black actor to play Bond, which he says would be “great”, but that the hype surrounding his chances have taken the shine away from the role. “Enough is enough. I can't talk about it anymore.”</p> <p><strong>2. Tom Hiddleston</strong></p> <p>He’s well-known among film buffs, but Hiddleston, 35, has become quite a star in recent months thanks to his romance with pop star Taylor Swift. His name was thrown into the Bond ring after his critically-acclaimed role as a soldier-turned-spy in <em>The Night Manager</em>. Reports suggest he is already in talks with Bond producers, but the actor is keeping mum on the topic, saying “I don't think that announcement is coming.”</p> <p><strong>3. James Norton</strong></p> <p>He might not yet be a household name, but Norton definitely has some ideal Bond qualities – like a face that doesn’t give much away. The 30-year-old recently shone in the BBC adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s <em>War and Peace</em> and his role in the crime show <em>Happy Valley</em> has placed him at the top of many bookies’ lists.</p> <p><strong>4. Jamie Bell</strong></p> <p>If the name sounds familiar, you might remember now-30-year-old Bell from his role as <em>Billy Elliot</em> in the 2000 film of the same name. Since his breakout role, the actor has moved from strength to strength, appearing in <em>King Kong</em>, <em>Jumper</em> and <em>Snowpiercer</em>, which brought him to the attention of Bond producers. In fact, one producer (Barbara Broccoli) reportedly entered talks with the actor after working with him on<em> Film Stars Don’t Die</em>.</p> <p><strong>5. Aidan Turner</strong></p> <p>This Irish-born 33-year-old will be instantly recognised by fans of <em>Poldark</em>, which shot him into the limelight. Turner also appeared in the miniseries adaptation of Agatha Christie’s mystery <em>And Then There Were None</em>, which bookies believe showed enough potential to land him on their list of potential Bonds.</p> <p><strong>6. Tom Hardy</strong></p> <p>Many believe he’s too famous to play Bond, but 38-year-old Hardy’s filmography has proven he definitely has what it takes. An early favourite with the bookies, Hardy’s roles in <em>The Dark Knight Rises</em>, <em>The Revenant</em> and <em>Mad Max: Fury Road</em> showcase his best Bond qualities. Plus, he’s already said he’d “love to do it”. “Who wouldn’t? If I did get the chance, I would smash it out the park.”</p> <p><strong>7. Henry Cavill</strong></p> <p>He’s already played Superman, so what’s to stop Cavill, 33, playing yet another iconic role? Plus, it wouldn’t be his first Ian Fleming character, having played Napoleon Solo in <em>The Man from U.N.C.L.E.</em> “If there were any windows and they wanted me to do that kind of role it would be great and I would love to do it,” he says.</p> <p><strong>8. Gillian Anderson</strong></p> <p>Yep, there’s a female possibility in the mix! 48-year-old Anderson has already proven herself capable of tough, strong roles, having starred as Dana Scully in <em>The X-Files</em>, as well as playing a detective in <em>The Fall</em> and a very M-like character in the James Bond parody <em>Johnny English</em>. While a female Bond doesn’t seem very likely, Anderson has been thrilled at the vote of confidence, sharing a fan-made poster of herself as bond with the caption, “It’s Bond. Jane Bond.”</p> <p>Who do you think would make the best Bond? Share your suggestions with us in the comment section below.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/07/aussie-actor-slated-to-play-james-bond/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Aussie actor slated to play James Bond</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/movies/2016/07/7-best-james-bond-cars/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>7 best James Bond cars</em></span></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/06/theo-james-could-be-new-james-bond/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Is this the new James Bond?</strong></em></span></a></p>

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