Sony PicturesJames Bond 26 isn’t just the next 007 movie, it’ll kickstart a completely new, possibly even radical era for the franchise – and it’s finally found a director.
With No Time To Die being the final James Bond movie for Daniel Craig, a new actor will need to fill those fine suits from here on out. Still, while we’re sad to see Craig turn in his Walther PPK and Omega watch, fans are rightly excited about who will portray Bond next.
As to what direction the new movie takes, that’s all still up for debate. But, there’s been talk of a much younger version of the character coming into play.
Speculation regarding Bond 26 is rife, and will continue to be so until the film hits the big screen. So, here’s what we know so far.
Is there a Bond 26 release date?
Universal PicturesBond 26 doesn’t have a release date, but don’t expect to see it until 2027 at the earliest. A 2028 release date seems most likely.
The last entry in the franchise, No Time To Die, was released on September 30, 2021. And Barbara Broccoli, a long-running producer on the franchise, said she doesn’t expect Bond 26 to start filming until “at least” 2024.
In an interview in late 2023, Broccoli reiterated that it’s a “big road ahead” for the next Bond movie. Indeed, she added the team hasn’t “even begun” the process of modernizing the character for whatever comes next.
The producers clearly aren’t in any rush, as Broccoli said: “There’s nothing I can tell you about the next Bond film. There’s nothing. Nothing is happening yet.”
Of course, there’s been a big change since then: Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, the franchise’s longtime caretakers, have relinquished creative control to Amazon (Jeff Bezos is said to have paid seven figures to control Bond).
Now, Amy Pascal (who produced Casino Royale, as well as Tom Holland’s Spider-Man movies) and David Heyman (who produced Paddington and the Harry Potter films) are attached to the next film, and Dune director Denis Villeneuve has been tapped to helm the revival.
Here’s the thing: Dune 3 isn’t expected to finish filming until late 2025/early 2026, so production on Bond probably won’t start until mid-2026 at the absolute earliest. Get ready to wait until 2028, is what I’m saying.
Who will be cast as the next James Bond?
EonAs so much time has passed, it’s no longer clear who’s the favorite to play James Bond. Aaron Taylor-Johnson was once in contention, but he may be out of the running.
The likes of Henry Cavill, Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, Charlie Cox, Richard Madden, and Aiden Turner have all been heavily linked to the role for years – but, for the most part, they’re all too old.
Taylor-Johnson has been the bookies’ favorite for Bond for a while now. The star of Bullet Train and Kick-Ass reportedly met with Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson… and it went well.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Taylor-Johnson addressed the rumors with a no-denial, cryptic answer. “It’s flattering, he said. “You can have something really positive [written about you], but you can also have something really negative that can circulate.”
“You just want to stay in your lane, stay grounded, stay around the people that you love and love you back, and stay in that world,” He added. “Because the moment you start believing the sh*t people say about you, you’ve lost your f**king mind. You’ve lost it.”
However, since Broccoli and Wilson left the series behind, it’s been said that Taylor-Johnson isn’t up for the role anymore. According to Variety, three actors are at the top of Amazon’s wishlist: Tom Holland, Jacob Elordi, and Harris Dickinson.
Who will direct Bond 26?
Paramount PicturesDenis Villeneuve will direct the next James Bond movie, with Dune’s Tanya LaPointe producing.
“Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007. I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since Dr. No with Sean Connery,” he said in a statement.
“I’m a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he’s sacred territory. I intend to honor 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 honor. Amy, David, and I are absolutely thrilled to bring him back to the screen. Thank you to Amazon MGM Studios for their trust.”
Villeneuve has been open about the fact he’d say yes to such an opportunity. “I would deeply love to one day make a James Bond movie,” he said on the Happy Sad Confused podcast.
“It’s a character that I’ve been with — like everybody — since my childhood. I have massive affection for Bond. It would be a big challenge for people to try and reboot it after what Daniel did.”
Sam Mendes — director of Skyfall — stated he’d received a “generous offer” to direct Bond 26, but turned the offer down.
What will Bond 26 be about?
Sony PicturesSadly, we don’t have any plot details to share right now, but it’s almost certain that Bond 26 will reboot the franchise and give the new 007 a fresh start.
Daniel Craig’s tenure as Bond reinvented how the character could be perceived, as Craig’s version had a definitive arc and universe confined to his adventures. It is expected that Bond 26, like Casino Royale, will serve as a reboot for the entire franchise once more.
Every iteration of Bond so far has had their adventures take place in their respective versions of the modern day. But, could we see that change here? How about going back in time to see Bond navigate espionage amid World War 2?
In Bond lore, he lied about his age to enter the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve. This led to him assuming the role of Commander during his career with MI6. A full-on war movie with Bond at the center could be very cool.
It’s certainly possible a fresh take like this could happen, though we think it’s a shame any stories from Charlie Higson’s Young Bond series likely won’t make the cut. Michael G. Wilson revealed the next Bond will already “have had some experience” and “been through the wars, so to speak.”
That’s all we know about Bond 26 for now. Check out our list of every Denis Villeneuve movie ranked, read our list of the best spy movies of all time, and find out what else is dropping this year with our 2025 movie calendar.
