Since Daniel Craig vacated the role after making his final appearance in No Time to Die, speculation on who will be the next actor to play James Bond has run rampant. The role of James Bond is by far one of the most coveted in cinema. The James Bond film franchise is based on Ian Fleming's novels following the iconic British agent, and over the course of six decades, the character has become a staple of pop culture, proving himself practically synonymous with the word "spy."
SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY
The first of the half-dozen actors to play James Bond on the big screen was Sean Connery, who portrayed Agent 007 in six official movies for Eon Productions (plus an additional one outside the main series). Connery was first replaced by Australian model and actor George Lazenby, who appeared as James Bond just once. The third actor in the role was Roger Moore, who was also the most prolific James Bond actor, having appeared in seven official installments. Timothy Dalton then replaced Roger Moore for two James Bond movies before being replaced himself by Pierce Brosnan, who appeared in the role in four feature films. Finally, 2006 marked the beginning of Daniel Craig's James Bond era, with the actor appearing in five movies before leaving the role in 2021.
Daniel Craig's exit prompted speculation about who would fill the 007 role next. Any time a James Bond actor announces their departure, discourse around their potential replacement begins, with the gig always proving an interesting talking point and opportunity for conjecture. Despite there being rumors of multiple actors being considered for the role, Craig's Bond replacement has yet to be announced, leaving many to wonder exactly when the future of the 007 franchise will be revealed. However, there is reason to believe that the announcement may not come for some time.
When Could James Bond 26 Release?
After No Time to Die's success, talk of a sequel began remarkably quickly. The nature of the James Bond franchise means that there's always another movie around the corner. The primary role also feeds into this, as every new James Bond actor brings changes to 007's franchise, allowing for the films to move with the times and remain relevant despite the fact that its premise is occasionally considered archaic.
The otherwise untitled Bond 26 promises another shakeup, but there's every indication that it's still a way into the future. Long-time 007 franchise producer Barbara Broccoli indicated that the next sequel will likely not be made until 2024 and that the studio was in the process of "re-inventing Bond" (via Deadline). Broccoli stated that she doesn't believe filming on Bond 26 is likely to start until summer 2024, meaning it will likely not be ready for release until some time in 2025. This hints that further updates on Bond 26 may still be a way off, with Broccoli believing that it will take a considerable amount of time to cast a replacement and get filming underway.
When Were Previous New James Bond Actors Announced?
There's no hard and fast rule for when a new James Bond actor is announced, but history does give some indication of what can be expected. Then-unknown actor Sean Connery was announced as the first James Bond roughly 11 months before the release of EON's first theatrical feature, Dr. No, and George Lazenby was announced as his replacement the year before the release of his singular On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Roger Moore, who'd been considered a decade earlier, was offered the role in 1972, though he was only officially announced a few months before the release of his debut, Live and Let Die.
Timothy Dalton's casting was announced approximately 10 months before the release of his first 007 movie, The Living Daylights, whereas Pierce Brosnan's James Bond was announced in June 1994 a record 17 months ahead of the November 1995 release of his first installment, Goldeneye. Similarly, Daniel Craig was announced as the next James Bond in October 2005, more than a year ahead of his first appearance in Casino Royale, which was released in November 2006.
The most common length of time between the announcement of a new James Bond actor and the release of their first movie is roughly one year. Though the specifics of each individual film's production have some influence over this, it seems to work out to a similar time frame on each occasion. This apparent trend is particularly interesting with regard to Bond 26 because it gives an indication of exactly when to expect an update on who will replace Daniel Craig as 007.
When Will The Next Bond Be Revealed: How Long Will It Be?
To best understand exactly when the next James Bond actor is likely to be announced, it's important to consider the history of the role and the comments made by Barbara Broccoli. Her inclination is that shooting on Bond 26 won't start until the summer of 2024, hinting that she believes casting the role will likely take roughly until then. Though actors are surely being eyed for the role, until a script is written and production is almost ready to begin, it's unlikely that any definitive announcements will be forthcoming.
The most likely time frame for the announcement of the next James Bond will therefore be sometime in early 2024 if Broccoli's comments are anything to go by. However, it's always possible that the role will be filled sooner, and the sequel's production schedule could even potentially move up, as Broccoli was likely being conservative in her estimated time frame.
Who Will Be The Next James Bond?
As has been the case on previous occasions, casting the next James Bond is something that will require careful consideration. There are certain criteria that a potential Bond actor seemingly must fulfill: all but George Lazenby have been British, most Bonds typically start out in their 30s, and they need to have a certain suave, action-ready look that will allow them to convincingly fill the role. However, despite the specifics of these criteria, there is a truly staggering number of actors being talked about as potential leads for Bond 26.
Bridgerton star Regé-Jean Page is one of the most commonly named prospects, along with Idris Elba, Tom Hiddleston, and Tom Hardy. It has been suggested that Henry Cavill would make a perfect James Bond, while Cillian Murphy, Jamie Dornan, and Richard Madden have all also been publicly considered. Other names that are often mentioned in the conversation about the next James Bond are Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, and Luke Evans, all of whom possess the appropriate qualities.
There have also been suggestions that Bond 26 will opt for a younger 007, with Tom Holland fueling speculation that he could be cast in a new take on the character. Of course, these are simply the British actors being publicly considered, with even more international actors being touted as potential successors to the role. Exactly who will be the next James Bond remains to be seen, and it may be a considerable time before any official announcements are made on the subject.