Auditions for the New James Bond Have Begun
After five years since the last James Bond film, the search for the next 007 has officially started. Daniel Craig’s final appearance as the iconic spy in No Time To Die in 2021 was a critical and commercial success, but fans have been eagerly waiting for news on who will take over the role. The announcement of the new actor has been delayed due to a shift in creative control of the franchise from the Broccoli family to Amazon MGM Studios.
The production company, which was formed after Amazon acquired MGM in 2022, has remained relatively quiet about the casting process. However, they have hinted at “exciting 007 news” coming soon. In a statement, Amazon MGM Studios confirmed: “The search for the next James Bond is underway. While we don’t plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we’re excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right.”
Bookmakers Reveal Leading James Bond Contenders
Over the past few years, there has been a lot of speculation about who might be the perfect fit for the role of James Bond. A range of established actors, emerging talents, and unexpected names have made it to the top of bookmakers’ odds.
Callum Turner is currently the frontrunner according to Odds Checker. The 36-year-old has appeared in the Fantastic Beasts series as Theseus Scamander and received a BAFTA nomination for his role in The Capture. He also starred in Masters Of The Air and worked with George Clooney on The Boys In The Boat. Turner is also engaged to pop singer Dua Lipa.
Harris Dickinson is another strong contender. The 29-year-old is set to play John Lennon in an upcoming Beatles biopic. He began his career in British independent films and later appeared in major projects such as Triangle Of Sadness, Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil, and The King’s Man. Dickinson also starred opposite Nicole Kidman in Babygirl and was nominated for a BAFTA TV Award for A Murder At The End Of The World.
Australian actor Jacob Elordi follows, having gained fame through the teen romance The Kissing Booth and appearing in Euphoria alongside Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney. He also starred in Saltburn and Priscilla. Elordi was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and recently appeared in the romantic film Wuthering Heights alongside Margot Robbie.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson has long been a fan favorite for the role. After starting his career as a child star, he rose to prominence with Kick-Ass in 2010 and has since appeared in major franchises such as Godzilla, Avengers: Age Of Ultron, and 28 Years Later.
Theo James and Jack O’Connell Gain Bond Momentum
Theo James, known for his roles in the Divergent series and Downton Abbey, is another name on the shortlist. He won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in Nocturnal Animals and has taken on roles in Nosferatu and Wewulf, both directed by horror filmmaker Robert Eggers. James has also received praise for his work in The White Lotus and Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen.
Jack O’Connell is a slightly unexpected name on the list. His recent performance in the Oscar-winning film Sinners has boosted his chances. The 35-year-old started his career in the teen drama Skins and gained acclaim for his performances in Starred Up and ‘71. He later collaborated with Angelina Jolie in Unbroken.
Henry Cavill, who famously auditioned for the role in 2006 only to lose out to Daniel Craig, remains a strong contender. Despite that setback, he has built a loyal fanbase and starred in some of the biggest films of the decade, including Man Of Steel and Netflix’s The Witcher. Cavill has also appeared in Mission: Impossible – Fallout and The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Henry Cavill Remains a Strong Bond Contender
Cavill has not shied away from the spy genre, despite his earlier disappointment. He has also appeared in Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible – Fallout and Guy Ritchie’s The Man From U.N.C.L.E. While the lead role is still to be filled, the next film’s director has been confirmed as Denis Villeneuve, best known for Dune. Steven Knight, creator of Peaky Blinders, has also been chosen to write the script.
However, Bond fans will have to wait until 2028 for the next film, marking the longest gap between movies in the franchise’s 64-year history. This delay comes after a six-year hiatus between 1989’s Licence To Kill and 1995’s GoldenEye, which marked the first film starring Pierce Brosnan.
Next James Bond Film Delayed Until 2028
A source revealed that the film will not be released until 2028. They said: “Bond won’t be back until 2028. The production mindset has shifted from ‘let’s hurry this through’ to ‘make sure we get this right.’ Denis wanted a long break after Dune 3 and has some broad ideas on the script. Steven will get on with drafts before they map out the final version. That’ll take at least the whole summer.”
They added: “Realistically, if they can make January 2027 work for pre-production, then that will be a success. The principal photography will run until the summer and the film always takes around nine months to a year to edit.”
Bookmakers are constantly updating their predictions, with Jacob Elordi recently becoming one of the favorites due to his role in the romance film Wuthering Heights. The Daily Mail has contacted Amazon MGM Studios for further comments.
