Rumours recently started doing the rounds that Tom Hiddleston is in “advanced talks” to take over as the next James Bond, and now further fuel can be added to the fire via a new report from the Radio Times. According to them, The Night Manager director Susanne Bier has emerged as one of the frontrunners to take the helm of the franchise’s next instalment.

She’s said to be among only a “handful” of names on producer Barbara Broccoli’s shortlist to replace Sam Mendes (who recently confirmed that he won’t return), and it makes sense given both her relationship with Hiddleston and work on the John le Carré AMC/BBC series.

If Bier does end up helming the next James Bond movie, she’ll be the first female filmmaker to do so. Many have said that The Night Manager was essentially a James Bond audition for Hiddleston, but it now looks like the same could be said for the director in charge of it!

Talking about the actor earlier this year, she said: “There’s a certain incredibly enigmatic quality to his eyes. You aren’t sure you can trust him, but you are sure there is a pain there that he doesn’t show. He’s so immaculate and fun and elegant and charming, and there is somewhere inside of him a painfulness, which I think for most women, is irresistible.”

That sounds a lot like James Bond, don’t you think? We’ll hopefully hear more about 007’s future soon, but it definitely appears as if we have a good idea of the next movie’s star…