A Ginger Bond?! Damian Lewis Rumored To Be Daniel Craig's 007 Successor

If Daniel Craig, 47, holsters his Walther PPK for the last time in SPECTRE, Damian Lewis, 44, will become the next James Bond, according to "a well-placed source" for the Sunday Mirror.

The British tabloid reports: "If Daniel Craig leaves, it's Damian Lewis who will be crowned the new Bond. He is seen as an all-round international star who is perfect for the role. As he ages, he looks increasingly suave and sophisticated."

The English actor won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his portrayal of U.S. Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody in Showtime's Homeland. For the past year, Lewis has been considered by oddsmakers to be a favorite (3/1) to assume the role of the British secret agent, ahead of Tom Hardy and fan-favorite Idris Elba.

His other notable roles include U.S. Army Major Richard Winters in the HBO's Band of Brothers and his Emmy-award nominated performance as Henry VIII in Wolf Hall.

A cryptic message from the past sends James Bond (Daniel Craig) on a rogue mission to Mexico City and eventually Rome, where he meets Lucia Sciarra (Monica Bellucci), the beautiful and forbidden widow of an infamous criminal. Bond infiltrates a secret meeting and uncovers the existence of the sinister organisation known as SPECTRE. Meanwhile back in London, Max Denbigh (Andrew Scott), the new head of the Centre for National Security, questions Bond's actions and challenges the relevance of MI6, led by M (Ralph Fiennes). Bond covertly enlists Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) and Q (Ben Whishaw) to help him seek out Madeleine Swann (Lea Seydoux), the daughter of his old nemesis Mr White (Jesper Christensen), who may hold the clue to untangling the web of SPECTRE. As the daughter of an assassin, she understands Bond in a way most others cannot. As Bond ventures towards the heart of SPECTRE, he learns of a chilling connection between himself and the enemy he seeks, played by Christoph Waltz.

Sam Mendes returns to direct SPECTRE, with Daniel Craig reprising his role as 007 for the fourth time. SPECTRE is produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. The screenplay is by John Logan and Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and Jez Butterworth, with a story by John Logan and Neal Purvis & Robert Wade.

SPECTRE is set for release in the UK on October 26, 2015, and in the US on November 6, 2015.