Steven Knight says he is enjoying writing Bond 26 — and sees 007 as a modern myth

The screenwriter says he’s having a fantastic time writing the first James Bond film of a new era.

Steven Knight has offered a brief but revealing update on Bond 26, the upcoming film to be directed by Denis Villeneuve — and while plot details remain tightly under wraps, one theme is already emerging: legacy.

In an interview with Radio Times, the Peaky Blinders creator compared Bond to folklore figures like Robin Hood and King Arthur. “Obviously with Bond, what you’re dealing with is now a character of folklore,” he said. “You’ve got to treat it with respect.”

Bond fans may note the weight of that comparison. For all the character’s gadgetry and violence, Knight appears to be thinking about 007 in symbolic terms — less as a man, more as a national myth. It doesn’t mean the film will be mythical in tone, but it hints at a worldview where Bond represents something larger than espionage.

Knight is writing the script without a specific lead in mind — but this is nothing new. The script comes first, then the casting. That detail tells us little about the film itself, other than that production is still in its early stages.

Knight also refused to name a favourite Bond film, explaining that doing so might suggest a particular direction. That comment could be strategic silence — or it might hint at a desire to avoid nostalgia. While some recent entries have leaned on self-reference, Knight seems more interested in reshaping Bond from the ground up.

His previous work — from Peaky Blinders to SAS Rogue Heroes — often centres on men shaped by conflict, driven by duty or damage. Bond fits that mould, though whether Knight intends to strip him back or mythologise him further is not yet clear.

Filming won’t happen until after Villeneuve completes Dune: Messiah, currently schedule for release in late 2026. But for now, Bond fans can at least be sure the writing is in progress — and in the hands of someone who views the character not just as a spy, but as a legend with meaning.

Source: Radio Times