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Next James Bond: Who Is Making Bond 26, Casting Status and Release Timing

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The next James Bond has not been announced: as of mid-October, Amazon MGM Studios has named the director, Denis Villeneuve, and the writer, Steven Knight, but not the actor who will succeed Daniel Craig. Screen tests took place in August, and the trades expect a choice before the end of the year with filming in 2027.

The short version: Amazon MGM took creative control of 007 in February 2025, hired Amy Pascal and David Heyman to produce and Villeneuve to direct, and brought in Nina Gold to cast. Knight has said he has finished a first draft. Names such as Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Harris Dickinson, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jack Lowden have been reported as contenders, but none has been confirmed, and Amazon has refused to comment on who is in the running. This FAQ covers only what the studio or trade reporting has put on the record.

When What happened Reported by
February 20, 2025 Amazon MGM takes creative control in a joint venture with Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson Deadline, CBS News
June 2025 Denis Villeneuve chosen to direct; Variety’s sources point to a 2028 release Variety
May 14, 2026 Auditions confirmed under casting director Nina Gold Variety
June 24, 2026 Shortlisted actors told of August screen tests Deadline
September 2026 Gary Oldman says a six-person shortlist exists; Steven Knight finishes a first draft Deadline, Variety
Mid-October No actor or release date officially announced in the coverage above —

Who is the next James Bond?

Nobody, officially. Amazon MGM’s only public statement on casting, given to Variety in May 2026, said: “The search for the next James Bond is underway,” and said it would stay quiet on specifics while casting continues. Variety has since noted that Amazon MGM “has repeatedly refused to discuss” who has or hasn’t been considered.

Several names have been reported as contenders. Deadline wrote in June 2026 that actors such as Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi and Harris Dickinson matched the type producers were looking at for the August round, while stressing that no names had been confirmed. By September, Variety listed Turner, Elordi, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Dickinson and Jack Lowden as reported to be “among those in the final running,” and said there had been interest in Louis Partridge, and that the stage actor Tom Francis was understood to have auditioned. Back in June 2025, Variety’s sources said the studio wanted a British actor under the age of 30. Treat every name as speculation until Amazon announces one.

Has the next James Bond already been cast?

The loudest claim came from Gary Oldman. In a Canadian TV interview in early September 2026 he said of his Slow Horses co-star Lowden: “They have made their choice, but they have not announced it yet. So my fingers are crossed for Jack.” Days later, at a TIFF session reported by Deadline, he walked it back: “There’s six people on a shortlist. I heard a rumor that they’ve picked James Bond, but they haven’t announced it yet, which is their prerogative.” He added that he does not know who has the part.

Knight, the screenwriter, has been more careful. Asked whether he wrote the film for a particular actor, he told BBC Radio 4 that “it does make life a little bit easier if you know who that person is, but also you have to write the character, not the actor,” which Variety read as a hint that he knew the choice. Neither man’s comments amount to an announcement.

Who controls James Bond now?

Amazon MGM Studios. In a deal revealed on February 20, 2025, Amazon, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson formed a joint venture to hold the Bond rights. Broccoli and Wilson remain co-owners, but Amazon MGM has creative control. Wilson said he was stepping back to focus on art and charitable projects. CBS News, reporting the deal, pointed out that this was the first time in over fifty years that the Broccoli family would not sign off on the next 007 film or pick its lead.

Amazon had bought MGM in 2022 for $6.1 billion, and CBS reported that a commitment to release Bond films in theaters had been a key point for the producers in that acquisition. The last film, No Time to Die, closed the Craig era in 2021. Our James Bond viewing order guide lists every film from 1962’s Dr. No onward, and our No Time to Die action sequence breakdown looks back at how Craig’s run ended.

Who is directing, writing and producing Bond 26?

Denis Villeneuve directs. Variety reported in June 2025 that he was chosen over four other directors, among them Edgar Wright and Jonathan Nolan, on a one-off deal that does not lock him in for a sequel and does not give him final cut. Steven Knight, the creator of Peaky Blinders, is writing. Amy Pascal and David Heyman produce, Tanya Lapointe is executive producer, and Nina Gold is the casting director.

Knight told Greatest Hits Radio, when asked whether the draft was done, “I’m nodding silently,” and called the job “more than bucket list.” Variety describes the film as both the 26th installment and a franchise reboot, so expect a new continuity rather than a continuation of the Craig films.

What kind of Bond film will it be?

Very little about the story is public. Variety describes the project as a franchise reboot, Knight has said he is writing “the character, not the actor,” and Villeneuve’s contract covers this one film only. Amazon MGM’s film chief, Courtenay Valenti, used her CinemaCon appearance in spring 2026 to promise patience rather than news: “We’re taking the time to do this with care and deep respect.”

When will the next James Bond film come out?

There is no announced date. Variety’s sources in June 2025 said Amazon was looking at a 2028 release and that anything sooner would be impossible given the film’s scale. Deadline’s June 2026 report said the studio aims to have its actor chosen by year’s end, with cameras rolling at some point in 2027.

Villeneuve’s schedule supports that sequence. His Dune: Part Three opens on December 18, and Awards Radar reported that he wanted to finish Dune Messiah first, then turn to Ian Fleming’s spy. Our Dune 3 release and cast guide covers the film he finishes first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the next James Bond?

No actor has been announced. Amazon MGM says the search is underway and will not comment on details. Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Harris Dickinson, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jack Lowden are among names reported as contenders, none confirmed.

Is Jack Lowden the next James Bond?

Not officially. Gary Oldman said he hoped Lowden would get it, then clarified at TIFF in September 2026 that he does not know who has the part and had only heard there were six people on a shortlist.

Who is directing the next Bond movie?

Denis Villeneuve, from a script by Steven Knight, with Amy Pascal and David Heyman producing for Amazon MGM Studios.

When does Bond 26 start filming?

Deadline reported in June 2026 that the plan is to cast the actor by the end of the year so production can begin some time in 2027. Variety’s sources have pointed to a 2028 release.

Who owns James Bond now?

A joint venture of Amazon MGM Studios, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson co-owns the rights, and Amazon MGM has had creative control since the deal revealed on February 20, 2025.

Sources

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