James Bond 26 has continued to gather its resources in advance of the film’s production, with the long-awaited sequel finally bringing a writer on board to handle the screenplay. This announcement comes just weeks after Denis Villeneuve was announced as Bond 26’s director, showing that Amazon is clearly putting the pieces together to get started with the project right away.

While there has still been no official announcement regarding James Bond casting, the speculation is becoming more and more reliable as names are finally getting attached to the project. While many fans have been looking to Denis Villeneuve’s filmography to guess who our next 007 may be, Bond 26’s new writer could hint towards another key member of the cast.

James Bond 26’s Writer Is A Frequent Tom Hardy Collaborator

Tom Hardy’s name has frequently been linked to conversations about who’s going to play the next James Bond over the years. The actor’s chances of appearing in Denis Villeneuve’s upcoming sequel may have increased dramatically. While there’s been no update regarding the film’s cast, it was recently announced that Stephen Knight has been entrusted with writing the screenplay.

Knight is best known for his work on Peaky Blinders, the long-running period drama starring Cillian Murphy as the fictional crime lord Tommy Shelby. Tom Hardy also appeared in the show as Alfie Solomons, another criminal who often clashed with the Shelby family in very explosive ways. This existing relationship between Hardy and Knight could prove important in Bond 26’s casting process.

Crucially, this professional partnership goes back even further than Peaky Blinders. Hardy played the lead role in Locke, a 2013 psychological thriller that was written and directed by Stephen Knight. The actor also played the lead role in Taboo, Knight’s critically acclaimed historical drama. The pair clearly get along, so there’s a real possibility Knight will bring Hardy aboard for Bond 26.

It’s very unlikely that Hardy would be cast as James Bond himself, given how transparent Amazon has been about looking for a younger 007 candidate. However, there’s nothing stopping Knight from writing a supporting character for Hardy. Whether it’s a villain, another spy, or just some kind of neutral party, there’s plenty of room in the sequel for a strong screen presence like Hardy.

Casting Bond 26 has been such a long and arduous process, with the franchise switching hands between Eon and Amazon mid-way through the search, that it’s easy to forget Hardy was actually a leading candidate for the role in the early days. He’s even seen former 007 actor Pierce Brosnan support the idea of his casting.

While it’s clear he’s not what Amazon is looking for in their тιтular spy, it would be a very fitting conclusion to see Hardy involved in James Bond 26 somehow now that a trusted collaborator is involved.