With Amazon MGM taking over as the creative force behind the James Bond franchise, it becomes even more unclear who will be playing 007 in the upcoming movie. There have been several names rumored for years now as possible additions to the list of James Bond actors after Daniel Craig’s exit in 2021’s No Time to Die, but those behind the iconic film series have yet to decide on a suitable replacement. Now that long-running producer Barbara Brocolli has lost James Bond, all bets are off, which is an exciting prospect.

Amazon’s James Bond takeover is a significant milestone in the ownership rights of the 007 movies. Every installment officially released so far, other than the non-canon Bond movies, has been overseen by either Barbara Brocolli, or her father, Albert R. “Cubby” Brocolli. There was even a period when both names appeared in the credits as producers. So, the next actor to be cast as James Bond will be the first not to be approved by a member of the Broccoli family, which is sure to result in a slightly different feel.

The New James Bond Being None Of The Popular Choices Makes Bond 26 Much More Exciting

No one has any idea anymore about who will be the next James Bond

Names like Idris Alba, Henry Cavill, and Tom Hiddleston, and many others, have all remained part of the conversation among the public when it comes to who will or should play the lead role in James Bond 26. Although it’s still technically possible that Amazon MGM’s new arrangement could install one of these speculative actors, what’s more likely is that the upcoming movie will star someone that none of us expected, as it would separate the franchise’s new era from the old in a much more obvious way.

Besides, playing James Bond can often be career-defining for an actor. For example, Daniel Craig will likely always be ᴀssociated with 007, as will Pierce Brosnan, and all their other predecessors. Inversely, most of the prospective names that have been floating around already have seminal roles. To illustrate, if Hiddleston were to snag the part, it would be difficult for many viewers not to see him as Loki from the MCU. It’s not an insurmountable problem, but it’s a better prospect to think of a lesser-known actor playing Bond.

There Were Some Great Bonds Among The Candidates To Replace Daniel Craig, But Many Were Predictable

Craig’s successor needs to be a breath of fresh air for the Bond franchise

James Bond fans have a strong idea of what they want. As such, a lot of the 007 candidates tend to fit similar archetypes. Plus, a suitable actor’s popularity, such as Henry Cavill, can result in their fan base clamoring to see them in as many huge roles as possible. Because of this, many of the possible 007 actors tend to be very similar, and it wouldn’t actually be that surprising or exciting to see them cast as Bond. With Broccoli stepping back from creative decisions, Amazon MGM can widen the search even further for the next James Bond star.