Next James Bond film (Bond 26), Digi Mart USA News: When a bartender asked James Bond in 2006’s Casino Royale whether he’d like his vodka martini shaken or stirred, the irritated spy replied: “Do I look like I give a damn?” Such throwaway lines signaled to audiences that a new era for 007 had begun, and that the film series launched in 1962 was being overhauled with the arrival of Daniel Craig.
Over the next few films, producers struck a balance between nodding to the past and moving away from some of the cheesier elements of the series. Ben Whishaw’s Q later asked the secret service agent in Skyfall, “Were you expecting an exploding pen?” adding, “We don’t really go in for that anymore.”
Two decades after Craig’s debut, the series is about to be rebooted again, with a new actor and a new creative team. According to the BBC, the wheels are firmly in motion, and an announcement of the new James Bond actor is expected in November or December.
In August, producer Amy Pascal told Deadline: “I would say the end of the year is a good bet. We are being really, really methodical.” Final screen tests reportedly took place in late October, so the decision and contract signing should not take much longer, unless something unexpected happens.
In an earlier era, Bond actors were revealed at a traditional photo call or press conference. Now that the franchise is owned by Amazon MGM, some expect the announcement to be made through its Prime Video streaming service.
A handful of actors are thought to have reached the final screen tests. The three frontrunners reported are Jack Lowden, 36, whose credits include Slow Horses and Pride and Prejudice; Josh O’Connor, 36, known for The Crown and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery; and Callum Turner, 36, known for Masters of the Air and The Capture.
Jack Barton, 31, of Heartstopper and SAS: Rogue Heroes, and Paul Mescal, 30, of Normal People and Gladiator II, have also been mentioned. The BBC notes that Craig was a surprise choice in 2005, so a wildcard candidate whose name has not yet been widely reported remains possible.
The film is expected to go into production in 2027 and be released in 2028, though no exact dates have been announced. Development is well under way, with the director and writer already in place.
It will be the 26th film in the official series, but the title has not yet been confirmed.
Denis Villeneuve, known for Prisoners, Sicario, Arrival, Blade Runner 2049 and the Dune trilogy starring Timothée Chalamet, will direct the film. Describing his connection to the franchise, Villeneuve said: “I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since Dr.
No with Sean Connery. I’m a die-hard Bond fan.
To me, he’s sacred territory.” He added: “I intend to honour the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come. This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honour.”
Bond 26 will be written by Steven Knight, known for the TV series Peaky Blinders and House of Guinness and for films including Burnt, Spencer, Locke and The Girl in the Spider’s Web. Knight has said writing a Bond film had always been on his “bucket list.” He told the BBC he planned to “write the character, not the actor,” adding: “The thing with Bond is it’s its own universe and franchise.
So there are certain rules.”
Six actors have played James Bond: Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig. Connery returned to the role for 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever after Lazenby appeared in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, and Connery later appeared in 1983’s Never Say Never Again, which was produced by a different studio and is not part of the official series.
With a new owner and creative team in place, the next film is likely to make a fresh start. Continuing the story chronologically would be difficult given the ending of 2021’s No Time To Die, but producers have other options.
A different version of Bond existing in a separate universe would fit an era in which audiences are used to franchises restarting in new worlds or timelines. Bond 26 could also be set in an earlier period, an idea that gained popularity after Tony Gilroy revealed that he and Steven Soderbergh had previously pitched a 1960s version of Bond.
Ralph Fiennes has also said he once discussed playing Bond and suggested a “black and white and very sort of film noir-y” version set in the 1950s. Neither idea materialized, but both were well received by some fans who noted that a period piece would be closer to Ian Fleming’s original character and books.
The shape of the next film will become clearer at a later stage. For now, fans are waiting for the announcement of the next actor to play 007.
