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James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli revealed plans for the next stage of the iconic character's new adventure. Broccoli noted that filming for the next 007 movie is roughly two years away, as the studio works to reinvent the character and find a replacement for the universe's former leading man, Daniel Craig.
James Bond has been a staple in the cinematic universe since its inception in May 1963 with the release of Dr. No, which starred Scottish actor Sean Connery, the first leading man to play the titular figure. After Connery, several talented actors have taken up the mantel of 007, with Craig and Pierce Brosnan embodying the last two portrayals of the iconic character. The hunt now beings a new face to continue the characters' legacy, but until then, filming will have to wait.
While speaking with Deadline, Broccoli wouldn't budge on who would play James Bond next, but she did offer some insight into the next steps that would be taken. “Nobody’s in the running,” expressed Broccoli. “We’re working out where to go with him, we’re talking that through. There isn’t a script, and we can’t come up with one until we decide how we’re going to approach the next film because, really, it’s a reinvention of Bond."
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"We're reinventing who he is, and that takes time," stated Broccoli. "I'd say that filming is at least two years away." Craig recently ended his fifteen-year run as 007, which began in 2006 with Casino Royale. The actor's final film as the emblematic character came in 2021 with No Time to Die, the fourth-best performing film globally that year, bringing in over $770 million from the worldwide box office. It'll be interesting to see the direction taken with the character, but what's undeniable is the fandom surrounding the charismatic figure.
Over the years, speculation has arisen around who will take up the mantel for the next set of 007 films, but nothing concrete has been confirmed or set in stone. Beast star Idris Elba has been the longest-running rumored candidate to be considered for the role, which would make the actor the second African-American to dawn the title of 007 behind Lashana Lynch, who inherited the 007 title while Bond was in exile in No Time to Die. Other talented actors have also entered into the early conversations, but no name has officially risen to the surface.
The death of Craig's Bond in No Time to Die has opened up a vacancy, but the critical process of findings his replacement is an assignment that Broccoli will take her time to complete. Craig's performance is genuinely seen as one of the best portrayals of James Bond, making it essential to find someone who can elevate the character even further. With filming about two years away, an announcement about the 007 universe's next leading star should arise in the coming months. No matter the direction, James Bond has a grip on a specific demographic, which could potentially expand depending on the next 007.
Source: Deadline