Daniel Craig's work as 007 came to an end with No Time to Die. Photo: Nicola Dove
James Bond to return. These words appeared — according to tradition — at the end of No Time To Die, Daniel Craig's last Bond talk. Even though 007 Craig has been blown to smithereens, the new actor will soon be up in arms and setting his sights on a new era of Bond. But when? And How? The next film — the 26th Bond film — is the subject of much controversy and speculation.
Currently, Bond fans are at the mercy of half-producers — and longtime EON Productions Bond keepers — Barbara Broccoli and Michael J. Wilson, who offer the only real clues to Bond's next move. Although Bond is in an exciting moment — not only because the next film will be a complete reboot, but also because Amazon has closed a nearly $9 billion deal to buy out MGM, and with it a partial ownership of Bond, James Bond. Here's what we know about Bond 26 so far.
The search for a new Bond hasn't even started yet
For British actors of a certain age, Bond rumors are inevitable, like a red laser on a chassis that you just can't run away from. Indeed, Idris Elba, Henry Cavill and Jamie Dornan must have gotten tired of being asked about it, while other names — such as Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Tom Hardy and Taron Egerton — have been linked. The authors of the telegraph (including myself) defended Rare-Jean Page Bridgerton as the main character at the 007 concert.
Ever since Daniel Craig hung up double O's on No Time to Die, Barbara Broccoli and Michael J. Wilson have insisted that the search for Bond MK 7 hasn't even begun. At the BAFTA ceremony in February, Broccoli stated that the casting decision «would be in a couple of years». One of the challenges, according to Broccoli, is finding an actor who will make a «commitment for 10 to 12 years.» Signing up to play His Majesty's best spy is not a one-time deal. Though it's hard to believe the producers aren't quietly considering at least one or two candidates.
Could Henry Cavill be the next Bond? Photo: Daniel Smith It won't be a young Bond
Bond's new face may be uncertain, but his age remains reassuringly old. The idea of a young James Bond was ubiquitous. (“Young” reboot is a common thing for a banal spanking of a franchise). Wilson rejected the idea of a young Bond at a BFI event last October. “In the past, we tried to look at young people. But trying to visualize it doesn't work,» he said. “Remember, Bond is already a veteran. He has some experience. This is a man, so to speak, who went through the war. He probably served in the SAS or somewhere else.
Indeed, Bond is a naval commander (average age 42) and previous actors weren't properly clueless chickens (average age 38). Bond casting director Debbie McWilliams told Radio Times this week that they were looking at young actors for the 2006 relaunch of Casino Royale, but she didn't think the youngsters had the «mass» or «brain power» for Bond. Tom Holland, 26, told Bond's origin story to a former Sony distributor but was rebuffed. «I don't think the Bond heirs were particularly interested,» Holland told Total Film.
But Bond 26 will be «reinvented»
At least that's the word Barbara Broccoli used repeatedly to describe Bond 26 — which is why EON won't pick a new Bond until they're sure about the series' next move. «It's not just about casting an actor for a movie,» Broccoli told LADBible at the BAFTA. «It's about reinvention.»
Aside from Bond's ever-changing face, the reimagining is nothing new. As misogynistic and misogynistic dinosaur Bond was (M's words, not mine), he kept up with the times — see how he deals with the end of the Cold War in GoldenEye, or Jason Bourne's stern style with Casino Royale. More importantly, Bond tends to revisit himself once in a generation when his films get a little silly (like No Time To Die, no doubt). Expect a reinvention to see how Bond finds a place in the zeitgeist and follows action trends rather than turning into a woman. «We're deciding where to go with him, we're talking about it,» Broccoli told Deadline last June. She added, «We're reinventing it, which takes time.»
Phoebe Waller-Bridge at the premiere of No Time To Die. Credit: David M. Bennett. There are rumors that Phoebe Waller-Bridge will direct
But for now, it's all a rumor. Earlier this month, Mail Online reported that Waller Bridge was a favorite among broccoli. According to an unnamed source, «Barbara has been quite candid that Phoebe will be her first choice to direct and co-write her next film.»
Waller-Bridge previously worked on the screenplay for No Time to Die. She is also working on several projects, including the Tomb Raider series, for Amazon's new Bond co-owners. If the rumor is true, it will be the first time a woman has directed a Bond film (although critics often forget that a woman, Barbara Broccoli, directed Bond for 30 years). Without a script, actor, or creative direction, it's unlikely the director will be locked in for at least a year.
Bond will not be played by a woman
Broccoli and Wilson are adamant that 007 will remain a man. «He can be any color, but he's male,» Broccoli told Variety back in 2020. The problem is not so much the lack of a female Bond, but the lack of female characters in general. «I believe in creating characters for women, not just women playing male roles,» Broccoli told The Hollywood Reporter. “I don't think there are enough good roles for women, and it's very important to me that we make films for women about women. He has to be British, so British can be anyone [ethnic or racial].»
Broccoli's point of view is absolutely correct: a woman should not be confirmed by the role of a rude old man. In the case of Bond, 60 years or more. Daniel Craig agrees. «There just has to be better roles for women and actors of color,» Craig told Radio Times. «Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a role as good as James Bond, but for a woman?»
No, Daisy Mae Cooper won't be «M» (that's what she says) 
'The only M I'll ever be is Psychic': Daisy May Cooper denies Bond rumors in RTS Awards: Jo Hale
Bond rumors took an unexpected turn last month when The Sun reported that This Country star Daisy Mae Cooper was in talks to play M in the next Bond film. After Bond's death in No Time to Die, which ended Craig's tenure, it goes without saying that the troupe of Bond's supporting characters — M, Q and Moneypenny — will be recast. The report seemed to be heavily based on Cooper's real-life friendship with Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
Dramatic heavyweights Judi Dench and Ralph Fiennes most recently played the role of a spy, and Cooper, best known as a comedian, as M could be a real reimagining. After Craig's serious stony face in Bond, a bit of frivolity would be desirable — although let's leave the total comedy to the Roger Moore-era nerd sass. Cooper herself denied the rumors in an acceptance speech she sent to the Royal Television Society Awards: «I can't be there because I'm in Bond… jokes, the only M I'll ever be mental.» Although Cooper plays a double agent? At this early stage, it might be a «for your eyes only» type of situation.
Bond 26 is not spin-off set-up
Please spare us the «Bond verse». It seemed likely when Amazon acquired MGM for $8.45 billion, which included owning 50 Bond computers — a not-so-secret weapon in the streaming war against Netflix and Disney+ Spin-offs, the Prime series and God knows what else might be coming down the Trans-Siberian Pipeline like a Soviet deserter general. Amazon has already announced 007's Road to a Million reality show, in which contestants compete for a cash prize at various Bond locations around the world.
Initial reports claimed that EON would retain control over creative decisions. “We were told nothing would change,” Broccoli said when the acquisition was in its early stages. Broccoli also abandoned the very current trend of milking IP with minor characters. «Of course there are other main characters like M and Q and all that,» Broccoli told The Hollywood Reporter. “But we really didn't want to make a Bond movie without Bond. It's like doing Hamlet without Hamlet.»
Producers Michael Wilson (left) and Barbara Broccoli (right) with Daniel Craig (center) at Ian Fleming's GoldenEye home Photo: Slaven Vlašić Bond will stay in theaters… for now
Broccoli and Wilson have made previous attempts to make a Bond series — «We've resisted that call for 60 years,» Wilson told Total Film — and along with the resistance to spin-offs, EON is determined to make Bond a movie. Bond's move straight to digital has been mooted during the Covid No Time to Die delay, while big-budget Marvel films are now finding their way onto Disney's very quickly – or even immediately. Broccoli repeated: “We make films. We make films for cinema. This is what we do.» However, in a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Broccoli's position seemed less certain. “We make theatrical films and we put a lot of effort into making them as cinematic as possible… I guess that's what we're going to do, but things are changing, so who knows? Things might be different in the future.»
Despite assurances, Amazon's influence is a concern. Screenwriter John Logan, co-writer of «Skyfall» and «Spectre», wrote a New York Times op-ed warning against the influence of Amazon's corporate interests («What happens when focus groups say they don't like the way Bond drinks martinis?») . EON also took a hit when MGM bosses Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdi left due to the Amazon takeover. Can EON resist Amazon's takeover? Luckily, fans can rely on Broccoli and Wilson's honesty to guard Bond's interests fiercely until now.
Bond 26 is still a long way off
Broccoli and Wilson have focused on how to reinvent Bond, the next movie yet far. «I'd say it's at least two years away from filming,» Broccoli told Deadline last June, a timeline she repeated just two months ago, which suggests things are moving slowly for Bond 26. Broccoli also confirmed that there was no script. However, speaking on the Empire podcast last year, she hinted that veteran Bond writers Robert Wade and Neil Purvis (who have co-written every film since The World Is Not Enough in 1999) might return to the ranks to move things off the ground. «That's what we'll do with maybe Rob and Neil,» Broccoli said of Bond's next move. «We'll start the process and then we'll see where we go.»
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