2021’s No Time to Die marked the end of Daniel Craig’s lauded 15-year tenure as 007, sparking questions about who will replace him and what to expect from Bond 26. Craig’s era revolutionized the franchise and its lead character in many significant ways, while still holding onto the enduring core of James Bond.

Rumors of streaming series and other spinoff projects have also circulated since Amazon’s purchase of MGM in 2022, but the biggest questions for the future of the James Bond franchise revolve around the upcoming 26th James Bond movie and, of course, who will be playing 007 after Daniel Craig, who will certainly be a hard act to follow.

The Pᴀssing Of The Producer’s Torch

Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson – the daughter and step-son of original James Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli – took control of the Bond franchise in 1995 with the release of Goldeneye, the first Pierce Brosnan 007 film. They shepherded the franchise through Brosnan and Craig’s tenure, taking it to new heights with its first $1 billion movie (Skyfall).

When Amazon purchased MGM, it was unclear if the streaming giant would continue to work with Broccoli and Wilson, though that changed this February when it was announced that they ceded control of the franchise to Amazon, though they will remain co-owners through a newly-formed joint venture. Broccoli and Wilson’s creative control buy-out was rumored at $1 billion.

Just a month later, Amazon announced that David Heyman and Amy Pascal were brought on to produce the 26th James Bond film and shepherd the future of the franchise at Amazon. While there have been rumors of TV shows and spinoffs, Amazon’s priority is to make James Bond 26 first and foremost.

A New Director Takes The Helm

Image credit: Everett Collection

Three months after Heyman and Pascal were set as producers, they found their director for James Bond 26 in Dune filmmaker Denis Villeneuve in June 2025. Their choice of the French-Canadian filmmaker to take the helm was lauded by many online, since he has proven himself of tackling beloved IP like Blade Runner 2049 and the Dune movies.

“Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007. I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since Dr. No with Sean Connery. I’m a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he’s sacred territory,” Villeneuve said in a statement. He added that he will, “honor the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come.”

The filmmaker is clearly deeply connected to the franchise, adding in his statement that he acknowledged this film is, “a mᴀssive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honor.” With the director in place, it didn’t take long for a screenwriter to be found next.

A Celebrated British Screenwriter Tackles 007 As A Two-Decade Era Ends

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight was brought on to write the screenplay for James Bond 26 in July 2025, fully solidifying the creative team. Much like Villeneuve, Knight is quite the versatile talent, showing his storytelling range in a variety of different genres in both film and television, and his addition was also praised by many online.

Knight’s addition also brought an end to an impressive two-decade streak of James Bond movies that were co-written by the team of Neal Purvis and Robert Wade. They were brought on to write the 1999 Pierce Brosnan film The World Is Not Enough, and were franchise mainstays throughout the Brosnan and Daniel Craig eras.

They also either wrote fully or had some hand in writing 2002’s Die Another Day, 2006’s Casino Royale, 2008’s Quantum of Solace, 2012’s Skyfall, 2015’s Spectre and 2021’s No Time To Die. They may be brought on for rewrites at some point, but as of now, it seems the Purvis and Wade era is giving way to the Knight era.

What Will The James Bond 26 Storyline Be About?

Specific plot details have not been released and likely won’t be for quite some time, though Knight did recently offer some tantalizing tidbits. The screenwriter revealed in a BBC Radio interview that the 007 franchise had been on his “bucket list” for quite some time. He also teased a bit about the direction he wants to take.

“It has always been on my bucket list and it’s fantastic to be invited to do it – I can’t wait to get started. I’m hoping that, being a Bond fan for so many years, it will be imbued into me and I will be able to produce something that’s the same but different, and better, stronger and bolder.”

That interview was conducted in early August, and he had not started the writing process yet, so it’s unclear when that may begin. With a potential 2028 release date being eyed, Knight will have plenty of time to flesh out the story. The biggest question swirling around the franchise has not been answered, though it has been narrowed down, slightly.

Who Will NOT Be The Next James Bond?

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Ever since Daniel Craig announced in 2019 that his sixth 007 film (which would ultimately become 2021’s No Time To Die) would be his last, fans have been speculating about his successor. Names like Idris Elba and Henry Cavill have been bandied about for years as fan favorites to take over, but it’s clear now that won’t happen.

It’s become clear that Amazon and Villeneuve have been eying a much younger actor to play 007, with Amazon’s short-list including Tom Holland, Jacob Elordi and Harris Dickinson, who are all 29 years of age. That alone eliminated anyone in their 40s or 50s, even those in their upper 30s as well.

However, it’s possible that even that studio short-list is inaccurate, with another report in September claiming that the director and producers are seeking a “fresh face” to play 007 who must be a Brit. That rules out Australian-born Elordi, the very-famous Holland and likely also the rising-star Dickinson as well..

Who MIGHT Be the Next James Bond?

Rising British stars Damson Idris (F1), David Jonsson (The Long Walk), and Archie Madekwe (Midsommar) have all had meaty roles in major, recent movies, though they aren’t quite at the household name status as many of the now-discarded Bond contenders. They all certainly have the acting chops to pull off playing James Bond.

If the filmmakers and producers wanted someone with experience who wasn’t incredibly famous, each would fit the bill, and take the character into a new era as the first Black Bond. Others like Leo Woodall, Lucien Laviscount and Aaron Pierre could also be top contenders, or Amazon could simply cast a total unknown as the new 007.

Could Any 007 Supporting Characters Return?

It’s possible, since characters like Judi Dench’s M crossed over from the Pierce Brosnan era to the Daniel Craig era. Lashanna Lynch’s Nomi, the M16 agent who was given the 007 тιтle at the end of No Time To Die, could very well cross over as this new agent presumably takes back the iconic 007 тιтle.

Still, given the amount of work already done to kick off the Amazon era of James Bond, with an entirely new creative team, producers and ultimately a new 007 himself, it wouldn’t seem fitting to bring back any number of supporting characters. This is Amazon’s franchise now, and expect them to make their distinct mark on it.

When Will James Bond 26 Be Released?

Amazon has been eyeing a 2028 release date for James Bond 26, though no specific date has been revealed quite yet. Director Denis Villeneuve is believed to start casting sometime in 2026, after he finishes his work on Dune: Messiah. Production is expected to start sometime in 2027, with the release in 2028, perhaps an early November slot like most of the recent 007 movies.

If everything goes according to this tentative plan, that still means there will be a seven-year gap between 2021’s No Time To Die and 2028’s James Bond 26. The casting of a new Bond alone will surely be enough to get fans excited and whet their appeтιтe for this next cinematic adventure in the months and years ahead.

Still it is a long road ahead, as the iconic franchise transitions to Amazon. As of now, fans have been pleased that they intend to keep Bond a British male, which was one of Broccoli and Wilson’s strict mandates for the casting during their tenure. Fans have also wondered, though, how long Bond will stay a cinematic franchise.

There have been rumors of 007 eventually shifting to a TV series at some point, though it has yet to be confirmed if there are any plans to make a Bond TV series down the road. It would be a huge paradigm shift, moving from the big screen to the small after more than 60 years.

It remains to be seen if that’s something fans may need to brace for or not. Regardless, 007 fans are entering a brand-new era of the James Bond franchise, which is an exciting prospect, no matter how it turns out.