Next James Bond: 'Night Manager' Director Susanne Bier Replacing Sam Mendes? 'Game Of Thrones' Star Wants To Be Bond

Now that actor Daniel Craig and director Sam Mendes have dropped out of the next James Bond projects, the search for their replacement continues. Reports say that the franchise might have found its new director as more and more actors, including actresses, express their desire to become the next British Spy.

The next James Bond movie might be helmed by a woman behind the camera as "The Night Manager" director Susanne Bier is apparently on the shortlist of a "handful" of names. Radio Times reports that if Bier does get picked by Bond producer Barbara Broccoli, then there is a strong chance Tom Hiddleston could be taking over the role for Daniel Craig.

Susanne Bier worked with Tom Hiddleston in the BBC/AMC spy TV series "The Night Manager," which ran in the spring. The show has been compared to a James Bond production by viewers and critics alike. It's where the buzz around Tom Hiddleston playing the next James Bond actually started, per Parent Herald.

Next James Bond will not be who you expect, Sam Mendes says https://t.co/VWN8MM4Wgx

— The Guardian (@guardian) May 29, 2016

Birth Movies Death reports that the actor is already in talks to star in the new film, but no official word has come out yet. It might even be possible that the new James Bond could actually be a gender-bending Jane Bond, as Gillian Anderson and Priyanka Chopra expressed they would love to be considered for the part.

However, they might have more competition for female James Bond as another actress is putting herself on the list. "Game of Thrones'" Mother of Dragons, the Khaleesi Emilia Clarke, expressed that she's also keen on the role.

Apart from being actually British, Clarke has had experience in the action genre via "Terminator Genisys." The actress even has a suggestion on who would play her "Bond boy." "My ultimate leading man would be Leonardo DiCaprio. No doubt about it," she said, per Independent.