2021’s No Time to Die marked the tip of Daniel Craig’s lauded 15-year tenure as 007, sparking questions on who will change him and what to anticipate from Bond 26. Craig’s period revolutionized the franchise and its lead character in lots of important methods, whereas nonetheless holding onto the enduring core of James Bond.
Rumors of streaming sequence and different spinoff tasks have additionally circulated since Amazon’s buy of MGM in 2022, however the largest questions for the future of the James Bond franchise revolve across the upcoming twenty sixth James Bond film and, after all, who can be enjoying 007 after Daniel Craig, who will definitely be a tough act to comply with.
The Passing Of The Producer’s Torch
Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson – the daughter and step-son of unique James Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli – took management of the Bond franchise in 1995 with the discharge of Goldeneye, the primary Pierce Brosnan 007 movie. They shepherded the franchise by way of Brosnan and Craig’s tenure, taking it to new heights with its first $1 billion film (Skyfall).
When Amazon bought MGM, it was unclear if the streaming big would proceed to work with Broccoli and Wilson, although that modified this February when it was introduced that they ceded management of the franchise to Amazon, although they’ll stay co-owners by way of a newly-formed three way partnership. Broccoli and Wilson’s inventive management buy-out was rumored at $1 billion.
Only a month later, Amazon introduced that David Heyman and Amy Pascal were brought on to produce the twenty sixth James Bond movie and shepherd the way forward for the franchise at Amazon. Whereas there have been rumors of TV exhibits and spinoffs, Amazon’s precedence is to make James Bond 26 at first.
A New Director Takes The Helm
Three months after Heyman and Pascal had been set as producers, they discovered their director for James Bond 26 in Dune filmmaker Denis Villeneuve in June 2025. Their selection of the French-Canadian filmmaker to take the helm was lauded by many on-line, since he has confirmed himself of tackling beloved IP like Blade Runner 2049 and the Dune films.
“A few of my earliest movie-going reminiscences are related to 007. I grew up watching James Bond movies with my father, ever since Dr. No with Sean Connery. I’m a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he’s sacred territory,” Villeneuve stated in a press release. He added that he’ll, “honor the custom and open the trail for a lot of new missions to return.”
The filmmaker is clearly deeply related to the franchise, including in his assertion that he acknowledged this movie is, “an enormous accountability, but additionally, extremely thrilling for me and an enormous honor.” With the director in place, it didn’t take lengthy for a screenwriter to be discovered subsequent.
A Celebrated British Screenwriter Tackles 007 As A Two-Decade Period Ends
Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight was brought on to write the screenplay for James Bond 26 in July 2025, absolutely solidifying the inventive workforce. Very similar to Villeneuve, Knight is kind of the versatile expertise, exhibiting his storytelling vary in quite a lot of completely different genres in each movie and tv, and his addition was additionally praised by many on-line.
Knight’s addition additionally introduced an finish to a formidable two-decade streak of James Bond films that had been co-written by the workforce of Neal Purvis and Robert Wade. They had been introduced on to put in writing the 1999 Pierce Brosnan movie The World Is Not Sufficient, and had been franchise mainstays all through the Brosnan and Daniel Craig eras.
Additionally they both wrote absolutely or had some hand in writing 2002’s Die One other Day, 2006’s On line casino Royale, 2008’s Quantum of Solace, 2012’s Skyfall, 2015’s Spectre and 2021’s No Time To Die. They might be introduced on for rewrites sooner or later, however as of now, it appears the Purvis and Wade period is giving method to the Knight period.
What Will The James Bond 26 Storyline Be About?
Particular plot particulars haven’t been launched and certain gained’t be for fairly a while, although Knight did just lately provide some tantalizing tidbits. The screenwriter revealed in a BBC Radio interview that the 007 franchise had been on his “bucket checklist” for fairly a while. He additionally teased a bit in regards to the course he needs to take.
“It has at all times been on my bucket checklist and it is unbelievable to be invited to do it – I can not wait to get began. I am hoping that, being a Bond fan for therefore a few years, will probably be imbued into me and I can produce one thing that is the identical however completely different, and higher, stronger and bolder.”
That interview was conducted in early August, and he had not began the writing course of but, so it’s unclear when which will start. With a possible 2028 launch date being eyed, Knight could have loads of time to flesh out the story. The largest query swirling across the franchise has not been answered, although it has been narrowed down, barely.
Who Will NOT Be The Subsequent James Bond?
Ever since Daniel Craig introduced in 2019 that his sixth 007 movie (which might finally turn into 2021’s No Time To Die) could be his final, followers have been speculating about his successor. Names like Idris Elba and Henry Cavill have been bandied about for years as fan favorites to take over, nevertheless it’s clear now that gained’t occur.
It’s turn into clear that Amazon and Villeneuve have been eying a a lot youthful actor to play 007, with Amazon’s short-list together with Tom Holland, Jacob Elordi and Harris Dickinson, who’re all 29 years of age. That alone eradicated anybody of their 40s or 50s, even these of their higher 30s as properly.
Nonetheless, it’s potential that even that studio short-list is inaccurate, with one other report in September claiming that the director and producers are in search of a “recent face” to play 007 who should be a Brit. That guidelines out Australian-born Elordi, the very-famous Holland and certain additionally the rising-star Dickinson as properly..
Who MIGHT Be the Subsequent James Bond?
Picture by way of Apple TV+
In brief, a British male actor in his late 20s or early 30s who’s considered a “fresh face,” with Deadline’s late-September report indicating that “99.9%” of the names being bandied about for Bond are probably not in rivalry. Whereas that guidelines out a number of actors considered prime contenders, it doesn’t rule out everybody.
Rising British stars Damson Idris (F1), David Jonsson (The Lengthy Stroll), and Archie Madekwe (Midsommar) have all had meaty roles in main, current films, although they aren’t fairly on the family title standing as lots of the now-discarded Bond contenders. All of them actually have the appearing chops to drag off enjoying James Bond.
If the filmmakers and producers wished somebody with expertise who wasn’t extremely well-known, every would match the invoice, and take the character into a brand new period as the primary Black Bond. Others like Leo Woodall, Lucien Laviscount and Aaron Pierre may be prime contenders, or Amazon might merely solid a complete unknown as the brand new 007.
Might Any 007 Supporting Characters Return?
It’s potential, since characters like Judi Dench’s M crossed over from the Pierce Brosnan period to the Daniel Craig period. Lashanna Lynch’s Nomi, the M16 agent who was given the 007 title on the finish of No Time To Die, might very properly cross over as this new agent presumably takes again the long-lasting 007 title.
Nonetheless, given the quantity of labor already accomplished to kick off the Amazon era of James Bond, with a wholly new inventive workforce, producers and finally a brand new 007 himself, it wouldn’t appear becoming to deliver again any variety of supporting characters. That is Amazon’s franchise now, and anticipate them to make their distinct mark on it.
When Will James Bond 26 Be Launched?
Amazon has been eyeing a 2028 release date for James Bond 26, although no particular date has been revealed fairly but. Director Denis Villeneuve is believed to begin casting someday in 2026, after he finishes his work on Dune: Messiah. Manufacturing is anticipated to begin someday in 2027, with the discharge in 2028, maybe an early November slot like many of the current 007 films.
If all the pieces goes based on this tentative plan, that also means there can be a seven-year hole between 2021’s No Time To Die and 2028’s James Bond 26. The casting of a brand new Bond alone will certainly be sufficient to get followers excited and whet their urge for food for this subsequent cinematic journey within the months and years forward.
Nonetheless it’s a lengthy street forward, as the long-lasting franchise transitions to Amazon. As of now, followers have been happy that they intend to maintain Bond a British male, which was one among Broccoli and Wilson’s strict mandates for the casting throughout their tenure. Followers have additionally puzzled, although, how lengthy Bond will keep a cinematic franchise.
There have been rumors of 007 finally shifting to a TV sequence sooner or later, although it has but to be confirmed if there are any plans to make a Bond TV sequence down the street. It could be an enormous paradigm shift, transferring from the large display to the small after greater than 60 years.
It stays to be seen if that is one thing followers might must brace for or not. Regardless, 007 followers are getting into a brand-new period of the James Bond franchise, which is an thrilling prospect, irrespective of the way it seems.
