James Bond 26: Everything We Know So Far
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2 weeks ago
A director is finally on board
There’s nothing Brits and Bond fans alike love more than a healthy dose of speculation. Rumours about who might be the next James Bond and what EON’s 26th film might look like predate the most recent film, No Time To Die (2021). And, at the end of that film, the words ‘James Bond will return’ appear on screen, fitting the long tradition. But when? And who will take the baton from Daniel Craig to become the eighth James Bond in cinema?
With a director finally announced, there may finally be movement. Here’s everything we know so far.
Everything We Know So Far About The Next James Bond Film
A Director Has Been Chosen
The latest: Denis Villeneuve has been confirmed as the director of the next James Bond film. The Canadian director’s CV boasts high-octane flicks from Blade Runner 2049 to Arrival and, most recently, the Dune reboot.
‘Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007,’ Villeneuve said in a statement. ‘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.’
With Amazon recently acquiring ‘creative control’ of the Bond franchise from long-time custodians and half siblings Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson, fans feared the 007 legacy was set to be destroyed, with commercialisation and streaming fears top of the agenda. In appointing a die-hard Bond fan as the 26th film’s director, however, Amazon may be hoping to assuage these fears.
The news also follows Broccoli’s very vocal endorsement of Phoebe Waller-Bridge as the next Bond director and writer. With Amazon firmly on board and decisions being made, we may now have to take Broccoli’s statements with a pinch of salt…
What Will Happen In Bond 26?
The plan was always this: once a director was in place, writing on the 26th Bond film could begin. At present, we’re somewhere in the middle, with a writing team still yet to be appointed (or at least yet to be announced).
In short, we don’t know much about the film itself yet. On multiple occasions, however, Broccoli has described Bond 26 as a ‘reinvention’. Back in June 2022, she told Deadline: ‘We’re working out where to go with him, we’re talking that through. We’re reinventing who he is and that takes time.’ But with Broccoli being pushed out by Amazon, these plans may have been scrapped, too.
One thing we do know, however, is that Bond won’t be a youngster. As Michael G. Wilson said in 2022: ‘We’ve tried looking at younger people in the past. But trying to visualise it doesn’t work. Remember, Bond’s already a veteran. He’s had some experience. He’s a person who has been through the wars, so to speak. He’s probably been in the SAS or something.’
So who will it be?
Who Will Be The Next Bond?
Aaron Taylor-Johnson seems the most likely bet for the next Bond thanks to his new ambassadorship of Swiss watch brand OMEGA. Bond and OMEGA have been aligned since 1995; since then, every Bond has worn an OMEGA Seamaster, and the brand has launched special watches for fans of the film to snap up.
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Rising to fame in teen rom-com Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (2008) and John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy (2009), Taylor-Johnson is best known for his action roles, including Kick-Ass (2010), Tenet (2020) and Bullet Train (2022). He would be the eighth actor to play the famed spy in EON’s canonical film history, joining Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.
An unnamed source previously said: ‘Bond is Aaron’s job, should he wish to accept it. The formal offer is on the table and they are waiting to hear back. As far as EON is concerned, Aaron is going to sign his contract in the coming days and they can start preparing for the big announcement.’
Of course, that didn’t happen, so it’s not a done deal just yet. Other potential candidates in the rumour mill include James Norton, Theo James, Henry Cavill, Josh O’Connor, Callum Turner, Jack Lowden, Harris Dickinson, Paul Mescal, Lucien Laviscount and Stuart Martin.
Most stars deny – and even laugh at – implications they might be the next Bond. Addressing the rumours in Numero magazine, Taylor-Johnson said it is ‘charming and wonderful that people see me in that role’ and that he ‘[takes] it as a great compliment’.
This all said, Cavill has a very real connection to the role that shouldn’t be brushed aside: he was on the shortlist for Casino Royale back in 2005, with the job eventually being given to Craig. A budding star in his early twenties, Cavill was ultimately considered too young. Now aged 41, he may be in his prime: Dalton debuted as Bond aged 41, Brosnan aged 42, and Moore aged 45.
Bond 26 Release Date
With Dune: Part One (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024) all wrapped up, the next Bond director, Denis Villeneuve, is currently working on Dune Messiah, with filming slated to begin this summer and a release already pegged in December 2026. What does this mean for 007? We’re probably looking at a 2027 release date – at the very earliest.
At that point, six years will have passed between Daniel Craig’s finale and the new Bond’s debut. That seems like a long time, but the same chasm exists between Spectre (2015) and No Time To Die (2021); if there’s one thing Bond fans can boast, it’s patience…
WATCH
All 25 Bond films are available to stream on Prime Video. UK Bond fans can enjoy a selection of the films for free on ITVX.
