James Bond fans have been left shaken (not stirred). Following a recent comment from Producer Amy Pascal that we would likely find out who the next James Bond would be by the end of the year, screenwriter Steven Knight has now confirmed that an actor has been cast.
The Peaky Blinders creator told Radio 4's Today programme that he has been writing the 26th Bond film, a reboot of the franchise, with the actor now cast in mind, revealing, "It does make life a little bit easier if you know who that person is, but also you have to write the character, not the actor.”
A statement from Amazon MGM back in May revealed the search for the next James Bond was underway. Speaking on the casting process, Pascal added, "We are being really, really methodical. Having worked with Barbara Broccoli at the studio, I mean, Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow. And it's got to be something really different that is stirring and exciting and different."
Knight's confirmation of an actor being cast follows Gary Oldman's support for fellow Slow Horses co-star Jack Lowden to be the perfect fit for the role.
Here’s all the bits and pieces we know so far about the 26th James Bond film.
Who is producing James Bond 26?
When Amazon bought MGM, it also got the distribution rights to its library of films, including all the James Bond films in 2022. Amazon MGM Studios will therefore develop the next iteration of the franchise as Daniel Craig passes on the baton to a new bond following his five film run as the iconic 007.
In 2025, it was confirmed Amazon would have complete creative control of future James Bond films, having paid an addition $1 billion to Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. Amazon then confirmed Amy Pascal and David Heyman would take over as producers from Broccoli and Wilson. This was confirmed in March 2025.
Who is directing James Bond 26?
It was announced in June 2025 that Dune director Denis Villeneuve would be directing James Bond 26. The script is set to be written by Steven Knight.
Has a James Bond 26 cast been announced?
Nope, it’s the question on everyone’s lips. Now that Steven Knight has confirmed the official casting of James Bond, it can't be long until we find out who will take on the iconic role.
Of course, there has been plenty of speculation on who might be cast, but it seems like Callum Turner, Dua Lipa's beau, could be the front-runner, with many news sources citing it as a done deal.
Aaron Taylor Johnson, Harris Dickinson, Tom Holland, Henry Cavill, Jacob Elordi, Jack Lowden, James Norton, and Theo James are also hot favourites. It's also been reported, since the casting news broke, that Sunset Boulevard newbie Tom Francis secured an audition.
Justin Kroll revealed that an insider also informed him Villeneuve wants a Bond that looks like "he could kill you with his bare hands in a trice", taking direction from James Bonds' origins in which Ian Fleming's novels detailed his time in the Royal Navy before earning his "oo" status. All eyes, then, could well be on a younger actor to take on James Bond's origin story.
When will James Bond 26 begin filming?
Towards the end of 2025, Heyday Films, who will produce future Bond films, told Screen Daily there’s “no timeline has been set on when the first feature in the relaunched franchise will be made or released.”
However, in the same podcast interview for My Mom's Basement, Justin Kroll shared his predictions that James Bond 26 could be on a trajectory to release in summer 2027. If his predictions come to fruition, we'll soon find out who will play James Bond. He also predicted that filming will begin in early 2027, which aligns perfectly with the Villeneuve finishing off Dune 3 press tours by then.
Who will write and perform the James Bond theme?
Well, if we don't know who the new Bond will be, you can bet it's far too early to know who is going to snag the James Bond theme accolade for film 26. Lana Del Rey just released a song for the James Bond video game – could this be a clue or just one for the gamers? If Callum Turner was to get the role of Bond, it would be pretty epic to see his wife Dua Lipa pen something for the 26th Bond film.
Previously, artists such as Billie Eilish, Adele, and Sam Smith have written songs especially for the James Bond films, each of whom have won Academy Awards for Best Original Song. Earlier films in the franchise saw performances from Shirley Bassey, Tina Turner, and Paul McCartney.
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