Having last been seen in action in 2021, the plan for another James Bond story still ranks as one of Hollywood’s biggest current mysteries. Notably, Daniel Craig confirmed his exit from the role after his last appearance in No Time to Die, and the franchise was then sold to Amazon MGM Studios years later for a shockingly modest $20-million price tag. Since that time, Denis Villeneuve, best known for his work on major sci-fi hits like the Dune trilogy and Blade Runner 2049, has also been hired as the director for the next chapter in 007’s story.
A Deadline update from late June confirmed that Villeneuve and Amazon were moving to the next stage of casting, informing talent and their teams who have made the next round of auditions for the role. Those auditions will reportedly take place in August, although there is still no timeframe on when the final decision will be made. Countless names have come up as potential options in fan-casting, including plenty of actors who have been A-list stars for the better part of the 21st century. However, the latest update on the matter seems to narrow down who Amazon is looking for.
Speaking on stage at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival (per Variety), former James Bond casting director Debbie McWilliams was asked by an audience member about whether the role of 007 could be a woman or a person of color. She responded by saying, “Not in my opinion, no,” making it clear that Bond author Ian Fleming “wrote a character and that’s the character that stays:”
“Not in my opinion, no. Ian Fleming wrote a character and that’s the character that stays. That’s what I think. I mean, other people might think otherwise, but I don’t think that.
While this may not be the news many fans want to hear, it seems to be a strong indication that the eighth new Bond actor will once again be a white man, just like he was in the books. With auditions getting ready to happen in a matter of weeks, this still leaves plenty of options for who will replace Craig in the role.
The odds on who will play James Bond next have varied drastically over the last few years, with names like Callum Turner, Harris Dickinson, Jacob Elordi, and Louis Partridge leading the way in various reports. While the new movie has no specific timeline for production or release, Bond is sure to be one of the biggest stories in the entertainment world before 2026 comes to an end.