Who is the new James Bond? Everything we know about the next 007 lm

JAMES Bond will return. Those words appeared – as is traditional – at the end of No Time to Die, Daniel Craig’s final Bond outing. Even with Craig’s 007 blown to smithereens, a new actor will soon step into the gun barrel and take aim at a new era of Bond. But when? And how? The next film – the 26th Bond film – is the subject of much debate and speculation.

At present, Bond fans are at the mercy of half-sibling producers – and EON Productions’ longtime Bond custodians – Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, who offer the only real clues to Bond’s next step. Though Bond is at a fascinating juncture. Not only because the next film will be a full reboot, but because in 2022 Amazon snapped up MGM for $8.45 billion, getting part ownership of Bond, James Bond. Here’s what we know so far about Bond 26.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson has reportedly been ‘offered’ 007

For British actors of a certain age, the Bond rumours are inescapable – like a red laser up the undercarriage that simply can’t be escaped. Indeed, Idris Elba, Henry Cavill, and Jamie Dornan must be sick to death of the questions about it, while other names – the likes of Tom Hardy and Taron Egerton – have been linked. Telegraph writers (myself included) have championed Bridgerton’s Regé-Jean Page as a man-of-the-moment for the 007 gig, though Slow Horses’ Jack Lowden is emerging as a fan favourite.

Ever since Daniel Craig hung up the Double-Os in No Time to Die, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have insisted that the search for Bond MK 7 hasn’t even started. But a new report suggests that Aaron Taylor-Johnson – following similar reports from early 2023 – has been offered the role. An unnamed source said: “Bond is Aaron’s job, should he wish to accept it. The formal offer is on the table and they are waiting to hear back. As far as Eon is concerned, Aaron is going to sign his contract in the coming days and they can start preparing for the big announcement.”

Taylor-Johnson commented on rumours last week, when asked by Numero magazine. “I find it charming and wonderful that people see me in that role,” he said. “I take it as a great compliment.”

Either way, it won’t be a young Bond

Bond’s new face might be undecided, but his age remains reassuringly old(er). The idea of young James Bond has been bandied around. (The “young” reboot is a common go-to for hackneyed franchise flogging). Wilson shot down the idea of young Bond at a BFI event in 2022. “We’ve tried looking at younger people in the past. But trying to visualise it doesn’t work,” he said. “Remember, Bond’s already a veteran. He’s had some experience. He’s a person who has been through the wars, so to speak. He’s probably been in the SAS or something.”

Indeed, Bond is a naval commander (average age 42) and previous

actors have been appropriately un-spring chicken-like (average age 38). Aaron Taylor-Johnson is a few years younger at just 33. Bond casting director Debbie McWilliams previously told the Radio Times that they looked at young actors for 2006 reboot Casino Royale, but she didn’t think the youngsters had the “gravitas” or “mental capacity” for Bond. The 26-year-old Tom Holland pitched a Bond origin story to former distributor Sony but was turned down. “I don’t think the Bond estate were particularly interested,” Holland told Total Film.

But Bond 26 will be a ‘reinvention’

At least, that’s the word Barbara Broccoli has used to describe Bond 26 on multiple occasions – which is why EON won’t cast a new Bond until they’re sure about 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 a reinvention.”

Bond’s ever-changing face aside, reinvention is nothing new. As much of a sexist, misogynist dinosaur Bond may be (M’s words, not mine), he has moved with the times – see him dealing with the end of the Cold War in GoldenEye, or muscling in on Jason Bourne’s smash-face style

with Casino Royale. More importantly, Bond tends to reground himself once every generation, whenever his films get a bit daft (as No Time to Die undoubtedly did). Expect the reinvention to see Bond finding a place in the zeitgeist and following action trends, rather than being recast as a woman. “We’re working out where to go with him, we’re talking that through,” Broccoli told Deadline in June 2022. She added: “We’re reinventing who he is and that takes time.”

Christopher Nolan probably won’t direct

It was reported last year by the Mail Online that Phoebe WallerBridge was in the mix as a potential director. According to an unnamed source: “Barbara has been quite open about saying Phoebe would be her first choice to direct and co-write the next film”.

Waller-Bridge was previously enlisted to spruce up the No Time to Die script. She’s also worked on several projects, including a Tomb Raider series, for new Bond co-owners Amazon. WallerBridge would be the first woman to direct a Bond film (though critics often forget that a woman, Barbara Broccoli, has been in charge of Bond for 30 years).