Bond 26: Everything We Know About Next 007 Film

The James Bond films have been popular for decades and since Daniel Craig stepped away from the titular role in 2021, people have been speculating what the future of the franchise will look like.

There were some concerns after Amazon acquired MGM in 2022, but Michael G. Wilson a screenwriter and co-producer at Eon, which produces the Bond franchise, assured fans that the iconic character would eventually be back.

"It's a whole new world," he told Deadline in 2022. "We've got to see what happens with Amazon. But there'll always be a Bond."

Most information surrounding the next 007 film has been kept under wraps, but we do know that the working title is Bond 26, as this will be the 26th film with Bond as the protagonist. The film series will be undergoing a major shift as, for the first time since 2006's Casino Royale, a new actor will be stepping up to play the famous spy.

Newsweek emailed Amazon and MGM for comment on Wednesday.

Unfortunately for fans eagerly waiting for the next installment, Bond 26 is still very much in the pre-production stage and isn't likely to see theaters until 2025 at the earliest.

"We're working out where to go with him, we're talking that through," producer Barbara Broccoli said, speaking at an event in 2022 where she and her Bond co-producer Wilson were presented with a British Film Institute Fellowship.

"There isn't a script and we can't come up with one until we decide how we're going to approach the next film because, really, it's a reinvention of Bond. We're reinventing who he is and that takes time. I'd say that filming is at least two years away."

Who Will Play James Bond?

Over the years both Wilson and Broccoli have provided insight into the kind of person they want to cast for the ever-important role.

"You think of him as being from Britain or the Commonwealth, but Britain is a very diverse place," Wilson told Variety back in 2020.

Broccoli added: "He can be of any color, but he is male."

During an event in 2022 at London's British Film Institute to celebrate 60 years of Bond, Wilson said producers were looking for actors in their 30s to take on the mantle.

"We've tried looking at younger people in the past. But trying to visualize it doesn't work. Remember, Bond's already a veteran. He's had some experience," he explained.

"He's a person who has been through the wars, so to speak. He's probably been in the SAS or something. He isn't some kid out of high school that you can bring in and start off. That's why it works for a 30-something."

The following year, casting director Debbie Williams echoed this sentiment, saying the team considered casting someone in their 20s for Casino Royale, but ultimately decided against it.

"We did look at a lot of younger actors. and I just don't think they had the gravitas, they didn't have the experience, they didn't have the mental capacity to take it on, because it's not just the part they're taking on, it's a massive responsibility," she told the Radio Times.

While several A-listers have been speculated to reprise the role, in March The Sun reported that Bullet Train star Aaron Taylor-Johnson had been "formally offered" the part of the new 007. However, the British actor has yet to confirm the rumors.

Before Taylor-Johnson became a top contender for Bond, several big names were rumored to be taking on the role. Luther star Idris Elba was said to be in the running, before Broccoli and Wilson said the 51-year-old was "too old" for the role.

"When we cast Bond, it's a 10-, 12-year commitment," Broccoli said in 2022. "He's probably thinking, 'Do I really want that thing?' Not everybody wants to do that."

Henry Cavill was rumored to be the next 007 after his exit from the DC Universe and has proven to be a favorite among fans, as a fake trailer of Cavill playing Bond previously went viral online.

Actor Regé-Jean Page was suggested following his breakout role in Bridgerton. Richard Madden, who played Robb Stark in Game of Thrones, was also mentioned, along with Beauty and the Beast's Luke Evans, English actor James Norton and A-lister Tom Hiddleston.

The returns of other cast members, such as Ralph Fiennes as M, Naomie Harris as Eve Moneypenny, and Ben Whishaw as Q, have not been confirmed for Bond 26.