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The new James Bond is likely to be revealed at the end of the year, a producer has said.
Fans of Ian Fleming’s dapper spy have spent years waiting for the franchise to replace Daniel Craig, who officially retired his tuxedo after 2021’s No Time to Die.
Since then, speculation has been rife as to who’ll be getting behind the wheel of 007’s Aston Martin, with the likes of Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi and Harris Dickinson rumoured to be in the running.
Now, Bond producer Amy Pascal has revealed that the team is likely to have a name for Bond by the end of 2026.
Callum Turner is currently the favourite to play Bond (Getty)
When asked for a timeline on the new James Bond announcement, Pascal told Deadline: “I would say the end of the year is a good bet.
“We are being really, really methodical. Having worked with Barbara Broccoli at the studio, I mean, Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow.”
She added that MGM – the Amazon-owned company that took creative control over the franchise from co-owner Broccoli last year – are taking the process very seriously.
“And it’s got to be something really different that is stirring and exciting and different,” Pascal said.
The next Bond film is set to be directed by Dune’s Denis Villeneuve, with Peaky Blinders writer Steven Knight penning the script.
Ahead of MGM announcing the next Bond, a number of people linked to the franchise have given their thoughts on the character’s next iteration. Last month, Diamonds Are Forever star Trina Parks said that she hopes the next Bond will be monogamous, telling The Telegraph that she wants his female lead to “be on an equal footing”.
Jacob Elordi is another favourite to take on the role of 007 (AFP/Getty)
Meanwhile, retired casting director Debbie McWilliams told The Independent in June that she is not impressed with any of the current frontrunners. “I don’t want to see any of them as Bond because we now know so much about them,” she said. “We want to know as little about them personally as possible, because that what spies are.”
Callum Turner, 36 – who married pop star Dua Lipa in June – is currently the bookies’ favourite to replace Daniel Craig, followed closely by Babygirl’s Dickinson, House of Guinness’ Louis Partridge, and Euphoria’s Jacob Elordi.
Last month, surprise name Tom Francis emerged as a potential Bond, with the West End star being given odds of 10/3. The theatre actor was rumoured to have auditioned for producers earlier this year.