James Bond is one of the most coveted roles in cinema. Taking on the character can transform an actor’s career, placing them among an exclusive group of performers. Since the official film series began, only six actors have portrayed the British secret agent, from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig.
To put that into perspective, the UK has gone through more prime ministers in the past decade than there have been official Bonds, while twice as many people have walked on the Moon.
The last Bond casting announcement came in 2005, when Daniel Craig was confirmed for the role. More than two decades later, speculation about who will inherit the iconic 007 mantle is reaching a new peak. With an announcement apparently drawing closer, here are seven key questions Bond fans want answered.
1. Who will be the next 007?
This has been the central question among Bond fans for years, and the speculation has intensified as reports suggest the casting process is nearing its final stages.
Several familiar names have repeatedly appeared among the rumoured contenders, including Henry Cavill, Harris Dickinson, Jacob Elordi, Jack Lowden, James Norton, Jack O’Connell, Callum Turner and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
More recently, the list has appeared to expand. Variety reported earlier this year that stage actor Tom Francis had auditioned for the role. Page Six subsequently reported that further auditions could take place this month, with Gladiator 2 actor Paul Mescal and Jack Barton, known for Heartstopper and SAS: Rogue Heroes, reportedly among those being considered.
The producers of the next Bond film have described the character as moving forward with “his next adventure”, language that appears to indicate the franchise will continue with a male Bond.
However, it remains difficult to separate genuine industry information from online speculation surrounding the long list of potential candidates.
2. Have auditions already begun?
Amazon MGM Studios, which now oversees the Bond franchise, confirmed in May that the casting process was already underway.
The studio has otherwise remained tight-lipped, saying it would not discuss specific details while the process was ongoing and would provide more information when the time was right.
That moment may now be getting closer. Amy Pascal, one of the producers of the next Bond film, was recently asked by Deadline whether the identity of the new 007 could be revealed before the end of the year.
Her answer was brief but suggestive: she said the end of the year was “a good bet”.
Rumours have since intensified. Entertainment writer Daniel Richtman claimed last month that the production was in the final round of casting and might already have selected its Bond.
Journalist Jeff Sneider separately said he had heard a similar rumour, suggesting the field had narrowed from seven candidates to three and possibly even further.
Sneider also hinted that the eventual choice may not be one of the widely reported frontrunners. His reference to “the Aussie” was widely interpreted as pointing to Jacob Elordi, who grew up in Brisbane and Melbourne before moving to the United States to pursue his acting career.
3. What does a Bond audition involve?
The casting process is expected to draw on the methods used for previous Bond films.
One of the best-known audition scenes comes from From Russia With Love. In the sequence, Bond emerges from his bathroom to discover Tatiana Romanova in his bed. Unlike many of the franchise’s famous action sequences, the scene contains no elaborate gadgets, explosions or fights.
Instead, it tests an actor’s physical presence, confidence, movement and charisma.
Martin Campbell, who directed both GoldenEye and Casino Royale, has previously described the key quality as appearing effortless. Bond, he explained, should never seem awkward or uncertain, with every movement conveying control and efficiency.
The screen tests are also considerably more elaborate than a typical acting audition. Previous Bond casting sessions have involved professional hair and make-up, costumes, sets and other performers to give producers a realistic sense of how each candidate will appear on screen.
4. How will the new Bond be revealed?
Traditionally, a new Bond has been unveiled at a major London press conference attended by international media.
This time, however, the franchise is operating under a different ownership structure. Amazon MGM now has creative control over Bond’s future, following Amazon’s $8.5 billion acquisition of MGM in 2021.
The deal included distribution rights to the Bond films, while Amazon is also reported to have paid at least another $20 million for greater creative control over the franchise.
That raises the possibility that the studio could use the unveiling of the new 007 to promote Prime Video. An exclusive announcement through the streaming platform could generate significant attention and potentially drive new subscriptions, while still attracting extensive coverage from news organisations around the world.
Another potentially significant date is October 5, Global James Bond Day. The date marks the anniversary of the release of Dr No, the first Bond film, in 1962. With the occasion approaching, fans may want to keep an eye on it.
5. What do we know about the next Bond film?
Very little is confirmed about the plot or even the title of the next instalment.
Steven Knight, creator of Peaky Blinders, is writing the screenplay, while Denis Villeneuve, director of Dune, is set to direct.
The production team may already have a title in mind, although the project could simply be referred to internally as Bond 26 for the time being.
Many Bond films have borrowed their titles from Ian Fleming’s original stories. Four Fleming titles have never been used in full: The Hildebrand Rarity, Risico, 007 in New York and The Property of a Lady. Elements from some of those stories, however, have appeared in earlier films.
Fans have also developed their own ideas. Since King Charles III came to the throne in 2022, suggestions such as On His Majesty’s Secret Service and King & Country have circulated among Bond enthusiasts.
The release is widely expected to take place in 2028. If that happens, Bond 26 would mark the longest gap between two films in the franchise’s history, surpassing the period between Licence To Kill in 1989 and GoldenEye in 1995.
6. How much of Bond’s future is already being planned?
Only the filmmakers and Amazon MGM know how far their plans extend, but the studio has the resources to think well beyond a single movie.
The team could be considering how Bond’s story might unfold across several films, whether a broader narrative would connect future instalments and how frequently new movies should be released.
The schedule could potentially involve a new Bond film every two, three or even four to five years.
Amazon MGM will also have the experiences of Disney’s Star Wars franchise and the Marvel Cinematic Universe to consider as it determines how extensively to expand the Bond universe.
There could be opportunities for spin-offs, including stories centred on a younger Bond or characters such as Miss Moneypenny. But expanding the franchise too aggressively could also risk overwhelming audiences and taking attention away from the main films that remain at the heart of Bond’s appeal.
7. How will the next film address No Time To Die?
Warning: spoilers for No Time To Die follow.
Daniel Craig’s final appearance as Bond ended with the spy apparently sacrificing himself. Bond was on the island lair of Rami Malek’s villain, Lyutsifer Safin, when the location was hit by a series of missile strikes.
The fate of the character created an obvious challenge for whoever takes over the role.
However, reports that the next film could explore Bond’s early years with MI6 suggest that the franchise may effectively reboot the character. Such an approach would allow the filmmakers to move forward without being tied closely to the events of No Time To Die.
There is also a long-standing tradition that gives the filmmakers considerable freedom: Bond always comes back.
The closing message of the previous films has repeatedly promised that “James Bond will return”. Before long, fans are likely to discover exactly who will be stepping into the role when he does.
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