Daniel Craig is reportedly bidding farewell to the role of James Bond, leaving the iconic part open for another leading actor.

Producers are still hoping to woo their star back to the franchise but, with no confirmation of a return as of yet, numerous others are being tipped to take his place.

Idris Elba and Damian Lewis remain firm favourites while James Norton has emerged as a contender following his acclaimed turn in the BBC’s hit War & Peace series.

Craig has commented on the rife speculation before, saying he “has the right to change his mind anytime he wants to” and will likely keep us all guessing for months or even years yet.

Here ’ s our pick of the strongest contenders:

Idris Elba

Plenty of Ian Fleming fans want The Wire actor to be the first black Bond, but that could be exactly what is putting him off. “I just don't want to be the black James Bond,” he said. “Sean Connery wasn't the Scottish James Bond and Daniel Craig wasn't the blue-eyed James Bond so if I played him I don’t want to be called the black James Bond.”

That's not to say he isn’t humbled by the support, and we reckon he'd be a top choice.

Current odds: 9/2

Damian Lewis

Homeland star Damian Lewis is to play a British Secret Service agent in Susanna White's film adaptation of John le Carre's Our Kind of Traitor (Getty Images)

It’s been rumoured that Homeland’s Lewis has signed up for the part. He joked in January that he “would tell you but would have to kill you”. Producers are set to start work on the next movie in Spring, so time is running out for an answer…

Current odds: 7/4

James Norton

James Norton as Tommy Lee Royce in Happy Valley (BBC)

Norton’s name was thrown into the ring recently, with bookies slashing odds on him playing 007 to 18/1. Appearances in Happy Valley, Grantchester and War & Peace have upped his chances.

Current odds: 18/1

Aidan Turner

Aidan Turner has won many female fans as Ross Poldark (BBC)

Strong performances in Poldark and And Then There Were None made Turner a household name with his Irish charm and manly good looks. A fan favourite, for sure.

Current odds: 6/1

Tom Hardy

(Downloaded from the Warner Bro's media site/Jasin Boland/© 2014 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.)

Hardy has bucket-loads of grit and has proved he can look mean and race cars fast in Mad Max: Fury Road. He also oozes cool, which any veritable Bond simply must do. Hardy's a big hit with the public too, with 22 per cent of a 1000 Bond fans aged between 18 and 65 telling LeoVegas.com that they fancy him for the job. Vroom!

Current odds: 5/2

Henry Cavill

(© 2013 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Legendary Pictures Funding, LLC)

Casino Royale director Martin Campbell fancied Man of Steel actor Cavill for the part back in 2005 but he was eventually deemed too young for the role and it went to Craig instead. Meaning in a few years time he could be exactly what filmmakers are looking for. To repeat, the guy played Superman, so he's got the ass-kicking thing down.

Current odds: 6/1

Tom Hiddleston

(YouTube/Autogefühl)

"I'd like to bring a certain British charm to the part," Hiddleston said when asked why he should be Bond. The Thor actor would be a unique choice and he'd definitely look dapper in a suit, but whether directors will back him to bring enough 'oomph' remains to be seen.

Current odds: 20/1

Jason Statham

(AP)

Statham is known for performing his own stunts, so prepare for more knee injuries should he be offered the role.

The Furious 7 actor certainly possesses buckets of enthusiasm. “Could I do it? Abso-f**king-lutely,” he told the Guardian. “Would I do it? Abso-f**king-lutely.”

Current odds: 50/1

Michael Fassbender

(AP)

Fassbender is fast becoming a studio favourite and has a certain Sean Connery feel about him. He's “flattered that people are sort of making that link” but is still rambling about not planning things ever because they never work and Craig doing a great job and him being in the middle of other things...blah blah blah.

Current odds: 14/1

...and a few more 'out there' suggestions...

Colin Firth

(20th Century Fox)

Firth's name began circulating after his turn as super spy Harry Hart in Kingsman: The Secret Service last year. But sadly, in his own words, “the James Bond ship has sailed”.

“I think there might be an age limit on Bond and even if I were to start now you'd have to be good for the next few,” he said. “I think Kingsman was as close as I'm going to get.” There goes our dream of seeing Mr Darcy shaken not stirred.

Current odds: 125/1

Hugh Grant

(Getty Images)

He ticks the British box arguably more than any of the other contenders but considering he can't really be arsed with acting much these days and we run the risk of hearing “Oopsy daisy!” muttered at inappropriate times a la Notting Hill, this is extremely unlikely.

“I might have been tempted ten years ago,” he told The Independent. “I do bring a natural menace to the screen so I've always been surprised that they never offered me the part.”

Current odds: 150/1

Robbie Williams

Believe it or not, the former Take That singer was thought to be a contender after posing as Bond in his “Millennium” movie video (shot at Pinewood Studios no less). Sadly the casting director quickly ruled him out as “not quite what we're looking for”. Bless.