Daniel Craig's run as 007 comes to an end in No Time to Die By Nicola Dove
James Bond is coming back. These words appeared — as usual — at the end of No Time to Die, Daniel Craig's final Bond outing. Even though Craig's 007 has been blown to smithereens, a new actor will soon step into the barrel of a gun and set his sights on a new era of Bond. But when? And How? The next film, the 26th Bond film, has been the subject of much debate and speculation.
Currently, Bond fans are at the mercy of half-sibling producers—and longtime Bond custodians EON Productions—Barbara Broccoli and Michael J. Wilson, who offer the only real clues to Bond's next move. Bond is at an exciting stage though. Not only because the next film will be a complete reboot, but also because Amazon snapped up MGM for $8.45 billion in 2022, taking a stake in the Bond property, James Bond. Here's what we know about Bond 26.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson has reportedly been 'offered' to 007
For British actors of a certain age, Bond rumors are inevitable — like a red laser on a chassis that you simply can't escape. Indeed, Idris Elba, Henry Cavill and Jamie Dornan must have been sick to death of questions about it, while other names — such as Tom Hardy and Taron Egerton — have been linked. Telegraph writers (including myself) named Bridgerton's Regé-Jean Page as the most relevant character for a 007 concert, although Slow Horses' Jack Lowden emerges as a fan favorite.
Ever since Daniel Craig hung up Double-O in No Time to Die, Barbara Broccoli and Michael J. Wilson have insisted that the search for a Bond MK 7 hasn't even begun. However, a new report suggests Aaron Taylor-Johnson has been offered the role — following similar reports from early 2023. An unnamed source said: “Bond is Aaron's job if he wants to take it. A formal proposal is pending and they are awaiting a response. As for Eon, Aaron is set to sign his contract in the coming days and they can start preparing for the big announcement.”
Taylor-Johnson addressed the rumors last week when asked by Numero magazine. . “I find it fascinating and wonderful that people see me in this role,” he said. “I consider this a great compliment.”
Could Aaron Taylor-Johnson be the next Bond? Photo: Getty In any case, it won't be a young Bond
Bond's new face may not have been decided yet, but his age remains reassuringly old. The idea of a young James Bond has been discussed. (“Young” reboot is a common thing for the banal flogging of the franchise). Wilson criticized the idea of a young Bond at a 2022 BFI event. “We used to try to look at young people. But trying to visualize it doesn’t work,” he said. “Remember, Bond is already a veteran. He had some experience. He is, so to speak, a man who has gone through wars. He was probably in the SAS or something like that.
Indeed, Bond is a naval commander (average age 42), and previous actors were like chickens without spring (average age 38). Aaron Taylor-Johnson is a few years younger at just 33 years old. Bond casting director Debbie McWilliams previously told the Radio Times that they were looking at young actors for the 2006 Casino Royale reboot, but she didn't think the youngsters had «gravitas» or «gravitas». mental ability» for Bond. 26-year-old Tom Holland pitched Bond's origin story to former distributor Sony, but was rebuffed. «I don't think the Bond estate was particularly interested,» Holland told Total Film.
But Bond 26 will be a «reinvention»
At least, that's the word Barbara Broccoli used to describe Bond 26 in the Bond 26 series. multiple times — which is why EON won't be casting a new Bond until it's sure of the series' next step. “It’s not just about casting an actor for a film,” Broccoli told LADBible at last year’s Baftas. «It's about reinvention.»
Bond's ever-changing face aside, the reinvention is nothing new. As sexist and misogynistic a dinosaur as Bond may be (M's words, not mine), he moves with the times — see him dealing with the end of the Cold War in GoldenEye or pumping up Jason Bourne's smashing style with Casino Royale. More importantly, Bond tends to reinvent himself once every generation when his films get a little silly (as No Time to Die undoubtedly did). Expect the reimagining to see Bond find his place in the zeitgeist and follow action trends rather than being recast as a woman. “We decide where to go with him, we talk about it,” Broccoli told Deadline in June 2022. She added: «We're reinventing who he is and that takes time.»
Phoebe Waller-Bridge at the premiere 'No Time to Die' Photo: David M. Bennett Christopher Nolan Probably Won't Direct
Last year, Mail Online reported that Phoebe Waller-Bridge was being considered as a potential director. According to an unnamed source: «Barbara has been very open that Phoebe will be her first choice to direct and co-write the next film.»
Waller-Bridge was previously tapped to revise the script for No Time to Die. She has also worked on several projects, including the Tomb Raider series, for Bond's new co-owners, Amazon. Waller-Bridge would be the first woman to direct a Bond film (although critics often forget that a woman, Barbara Broccoli, helmed a Bond film for 30 years).
Christopher Nolan Photo: REUTERS
An even more interesting name has emerged in recent months: Oppenheimer's Oscar-winning director, Christopher Nolan. Rumor has it that this won't be the first time Nolan will direct a Bond film. The stories spread following comments from an unnamed source (as often happens when it comes to Bond). Nolan allegedly had a «very serious argument.»
The creative freedom Nolan would have wanted is often cited as the reason he didn't take the job — the same reason Danny Boyle left No Time to Die during its development.
Answering the question rumors in Deadline magazine, Nolan unequivocally denied them in January. “B***ks,” he said. “Pure assholes.”
Bond will not be played by a woman
Broccoli and Wilson are adamant that 007 will remain a man. “He may be any color, but he’s a man,” Broccoli told Variety back in 2020. The problem isn't so much the lack of a female Bond, but the lack of female characters in general. «I believe in creating female characters and not just having women play male roles,» Broccoli told The Hollywood Reporter. “I don’t think there are enough good roles for women, and it’s really important to me that we make films for women about women. He has to be British, so any [ethnicity or race] can be British.”
Broccoli's point is absolutely correct: women should not be validated by the role of the stern old man. In Bond's case, he's 60 years old and growing. Daniel Craig agrees. “There just need 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 May Cooper will not be “M” (that’s what she says)
Bond rumors took a surprising turn last year when The Sun reported This Country star Daisy May Cooper was in talks to play M in the next Bond film. Following Bond's death in No Time to Die, which brought a definite end to Craig's career, it stands to reason that the troupe of Bond supporting characters — M, Q and Moneypenny — will be recast. The report appears to be loosely based on Cooper's real-life friendship with Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
'The only M I'll ever be is a mental one': Daisy May Cooper snapshot debunks Bond rumors at RTS Awards. Photo: Joe Hale
Drama heavyweights Judi Dench and Ralph Fiennes have most recently played the spymaster, and Cooper, best known as a comedic actress, as M could mark a real reinvention. After the stony seriousness of Craig's tenure, some levity would have been welcome in Bond — although let's leave the all-out comedy of heartbreaking audacity of the Roger Moore era. Cooper herself denied the rumors in her acceptance speech she sent to the Royal Television Society Awards: «I can't be there because I'm doing Bond… jokes, the only M I'll ever be is crazy.» . Cooper playing a double agent though? At this early stage, it may be an «for your eyes only» situation.
Bond 26 is not a spin-off production
Please spare us the Bondiverse. It seemed entirely possible when Amazon acquired MGM for $8.45 billion, including a 50 percent stake in Bond, its not-so-secret weapon in the streaming war against Netflix and Disney. Spin-offs, Prime series and God knows what else could travel through the Trans-Siberian Pipeline like a deserted Soviet general. Amazon has already launched the reality series 007: Million Dollar Road, in which contestants compete for cash prizes at Bond outlets around the world.
Initial reports stated that EON would retain control over creative decisions. “We were told nothing would change,” Broccoli said when the deal was in its early stages. Broccoli also rejected the modern trend of using IPs with supporting characters. «Of course, there are other main characters like M and Q and all that,» Broccoli told The Hollywood Reporter. “But we didn’t really want to make a Bond movie without Bond. It would be like making Hamlet without Hamlet.
Producers Michael J. Wilson (left) and Barbara Broccoli ( right) with Daniel Craig (centre) at Ian Fleming's GoldenEye home. Photo: Slaven Vlasic. Bond will remain in cinemas… for now
Broccoli and Wilson have surpassed previous attempts to make a Bond series — «We've resisted that call for 60 years,» Wilson told Total Film — and, along with resisting spin-offs, EON is committed to making Bond for the movies. Bond going straight to digital was discussed during the Covid delay of No Time to Die, while big-budget Marvel films are now finding their way to Disney very quickly (or even immediately). Broccoli repeated: “We make movies. We make films for the cinema. That's what we do.» However, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Broccoli's position seemed less clear. “We make theatrical films and we work hard to make them as cinematic as possible… I think that's what we're going to do, but things change, so who knows? Things may be different in the future.»
Despite the assurances, Amazon's influence is troubling. Screenwriter John Logan, co-writer of «Skyfall» and «Spectre,» wrote an op-ed in the New York Times warning against the influence of Amazon's corporate interests («What Happens When Focus Groups Report They Don't Like It When Does Bond drink martinis? EON also took a hit when MGM bosses Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdi left amid the Amazon takeover. Can EON resist Amazon's takeover? Luckily, fans can rely on Broccoli and Wilson to be honest — they have fiercely defended Bond's interests so far.
Bond 26 is still many years away
With Broccoli and Wilson focused on how to reinvent Bond, the next film is still a long way off. “I would say we're at least two years away from filming,” Broccoli told Deadline in June 2022. Two years later, we still don't have a name confirmed, let alone filming.
Also, no. word. Unless it's an «for your eyes only» situation. Barbara Broccoli has previously hinted that veteran Bond writers Robert Wade and Neal Purvis (who have co-written every film since The World Is Not Enough in 1999) could return to help get the ball rolling. «That's what we'll do probably with Rob and Neil,» Broccoli said of Bond's next mission. «We'll start the process and then we'll see where we go.»
At a BFI event last month honoring Christopher Nolan, Rishi Sunak offered his services as the new Bond. Barbara Broccoli responded with typically vague news, saying: «I can't tell you anything about the next Bond movie. There is nothing. Nothing is happening yet.”
Who and what do you want to see in the next James Bond movie? Join the conversation in the comments section below.
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