What is going on with the James Bond franchise? It seems that the producers behind the Bond films and the studio that bought the series are currently at loggerheads… And their creative differences mean that Bond fans are going to have to be patient for Bond 26.
The year isn’t over yet, but we’ve published our favourite films of 2024 already and it’s not too early to start thinking about what 2025 has in store for us.
We have Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later to look forward to, as well as Bong Joon-ho‘s Mickey 17, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and the new Yorgos Lanthimos film, Bugonia. But one question remains: When are we going to find out the identity of the next actor to play James Bond?
Speculation has been running wild ever since Daniel Craig hung up the tuxedo after 2021’s No Time To Die, and not a week seems to go by without hot takes and predictions on the casting of the next 007.
According to several sources, Bond producer Barbara Broccoli – who is the steward of EON Productions (the production company behind the Bond series) alongside her half-brother Michael G. Wilson – is said to be relaxed about casting a person of colour or a gay actor, but much less comfortable with a female or non-British Bond.
We also know that Bond 26 will be a reboot, following the death of James Bond in Craig’s final adventure.
There was no spoiler warning there, because chances are if you clicked on this story, you’ve either seen the film or know the outcome. And for those of you who just gasped, it’s been nearly four years – No Time To Sulk.
As we reported, the big name circling the role is Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who reportedly screen-tested for the role. However, as is usually the case, the second the press get a whiff of something and a name preemptively emerges for Bond, you can be sure it won’t be that actor.
Many are still hoping that we will finally learn who plays the seventh 007 in 2025.
Bad news though: there’s trouble afoot.
According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, tension is brewing between Barbara Broccoli and Amazon, who bought MGM in 2022 – and with it the rights to the James Bond franchise.
The report claims that Broccoli, who has creative control over the character and the story, believes she “can hold Bond hostage from Amazon for as long as she sees fit” and that she believes Amazon is not a good fit for Bond.
“Don’t have temporary people make permanent decisions,” she reportedly said, as well as this more colourful nugget: “These people are fucking idiots.”
Her main objection is that Amazon has been interested in pursuing different routes for Bond, suggesting tie-ins and spin-offs of the original films, including TV shows. The fact that Amazon execs also reportedly referred to Bond as “content” in one meeting did not go down well.
It is a horrible word, to be fair.
Per the report in WSJ, Broccoli “has told friends she doesn’t trust algorithm-centric Amazon with a character she helped to mythologize through big-screen storytelling and gut instinct.”
It also appears that Amazon isn’t too keen when it comes to casting a relatively unknown actor for the part of Bond – something that Broccoli did to great success with Daniel Craig.
If the report is to be believed, the relationship between Broccoli and Amazon “has all but collapsed” and “the franchise hasn’t moved any closer to its next installment” in three years.
So, the 26th installment in the long-running franchise sounds like it’s on ice for the time being and unless things warm up between the two parties, there’s no use holding your breath for an official announcement regarding casting any time soon.
It’s not too much to bear for Bond fans, as delays are not uncommon for the franchise. For instance, the hiatus between Timothy Dalton’s final outing Licence to Kill and Pierce Brosnan’s first adventure GoldenEye lasted six years – the same as the gap between Craig’s Spectre and No Time To Die. But these recent reports aren’t particularly encouraging either.
James Bond Will Return… But right now, hedge your bets for 2026 at the earliest for any concrete casting news.
Additional sources • Wall Street Journal
