As plans for the next James Bond film take shape, many of the most important decisions — including who will play 007 — are still to come.
Bond fans now have a clearer sense of when 007 might return to cinemas. The latest reports suggest Bond 26 is targeting a 2028 release, later than the 2027 date that had previously been expected. With Denis Villeneuve preparing to start shooting Dune: Messiah this summer, and with a production of this scale, the revised timeline seems increasingly realistic.
It is a moment that recalls the uncertainty before Goldeneye. Then, as now, the series found itself in unfamiliar territory. The gap between films grew longer, the ownership of the franchise shifted, and Bond’s place in a changed world had to be reimagined. Today, with Amazon holding the reins and the Broccoli family stepping back from creative control, 007 stands at a similar crossroads.
Much attention has focused on the question of who will be the next Bond. Amazon and the producers are said to favour a British actor under 30, with Jacob Elordi (Saltburn), Tom Holland (Spider-Man) and Harris Dickinson (Babygirl) among those reportedly under consideration. Elordi’s Australian nationality would not be a barrier — Bond fans will remember that George Lazenby played the role in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
But with no writer yet attached and no script in place, it may be too soon to choose an actor. The Bond we see on screen will be shaped by the story that is written, and until that is decided, the casting process can only go so far. What is certain is that Bond 26 will mark the beginning of a new era — one that could define 007’s future for years to come.
Source: Variety
