Everything We Know About The New James Bond Film

Barbara Broccoli, one of the producers of the James Bond franchise, recently shared a disappointing update on the casting of the next James Bond actor.

As the speculation over the identity of the next Bond has continued to grow since Daniel Craig’s departure, few legitimate updates have emerged. While actors like Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Idris Elba have been rumored to be favorites for the role, Broccoli confirmed in an interview with LADbible that the next Bond film, tentatively titled Bond 26, is not as far along in development as some rumors may suggest. According to Broccoli, “No, we haven’t even started casting yet. There isn’t even a script.”

The lack of a script or cast has resulted in a dearth of information regarding Bond 26. However, Broccoli’s recent update should not be too disheartening, as it is consistent with her prior comments. During the summer of 2022, she indicated that the movie was at least two years away from production. If filming commences in 2024 and progresses swiftly, Bond 26 might see the light of day in mid-to-late 2025, though a 2026 release date would be more realistic.

Broccoli has also provided some insight into the premise of Bond 26. The reason why the casting, filming, and script are so distant is that the film has significant designs for James Bond. Broccoli clarified that the script cannot be developed until the crew decides how they want to handle the character. This is not as straightforward as it appears because Bond 26 intends to entirely “reinvent” 007. As a result, rather than a continuation of the franchise or a repetition of its conventions, Bond 26 is anticipated to be somewhat of a franchise reboot that will change how viewers perceive Bond.

The main question that remains is who will be selected as the next James Bond. Although casting has not yet started, producer Michael G. Wilson has reminded fans that the character is an experienced, mature veteran, implying that actors must be at least in their 30s to be considered for the role. This criterion limits the potential pool of actors and rules out popular fan choices such as Tom Holland and Jacob Elordi. Furthermore, despite rumors that Lashana Lynch might take on the role, Broccoli has confirmed that the character of James Bond will remain male. Although Broccoli’s statement may be disappointing, it takes considerable time to develop a new, nuanced version of such an iconic character.