Credit: Inside the MagicFollowing Daniel Craig‘s exit in No Time to Die (2021), the final film in his series, Amazon MGM Studios has begun laying the groundwork for a complete reboot of the franchise. That new chapter is now taking shape behind the camera, with Denis Villeneuve (the Dune films) directing and Steven Knight — best known for Peaky Blinders — on board as writer.
Casting, however, remains wide open. Despite years of speculation, no actor has officially been chosen to take over as the new 007 yet, with reports suggesting the next version of Bond on the big screen will be younger as the franchise looks to rebuild from the ground up.
There’s also no release date in sight, and The Sun reports that an insider claims the film won’t arrive until 2028, suggesting we have a long time before we find out who the new actor will be.
Related: Previous James Bond’s Return in New Sequel Confirmed, Title and Release Date Revealed
The Next James Bond Has Already Been Cast
Meanwhile, James Bond is set to continue in the world of gaming with 007 First Light (2026), an upcoming origin story that introduces the youngest version of the character that audiences have seen on screen. Developed by IO Interactive, the game follows a 26-year-old Bond as he sets out to earn his iconic 00 status, effectively serving as a reboot in its own right.
“Follow James Bond as a young, resourceful, and sometimes reckless recruit in MI6’s training program, and discover an origin story of the world’s most famous spy,” the official synopsis for the game reads.
At the centre of that reimagining is Patrick Gibson (Paramount+’s Dexter: Original Sin), who plays the iconic MI6 spy in the game through motion-capture performance and voice work. The supporting cast includes Priyanga Burford (M), Kiera Lester (Miss Moneypenny), Naomie Ackie (Miss Roth), Alastair Mackenzie (Q), Lennie James (John Greenway), Gemma Chan (Selina Tan), and Lenny Kravitz (Bawma).
Will He Play 007 in the Film Reboot?
Now, according to costar Lennie James (The Walking Dead), Gibson’s performance as Bond is so “fantastic” that it shouldn’t be limited to the gaming world.
Speaking to Radio Times Gaming at the BAFTA Games Awards (via GamesRadar), James made his stance clear: “He’s fantastic in our version of Bond, and I genuinely think he should be a candidate for the main role that they’re trying to find someone for.” He added, “I’m sure he’s under consideration. The people in control would be mad not to consider him.”
Related: ‘James Bond’ Reboot Planned as First in New Trilogy, Young Actor Confirmed as 007
The timing of those comments is pretty significant. With the film still in development and no casting confirmed, 007 First Light is currently the clearest indication of where the franchise may be heading creatively.
The game leans heavily into a younger, less refined Bond — one still learning the rules of espionage — which mirrors some reports surrounding the direction of the next film.
For now, Gibson has entered a growing field of potential candidates. But as the franchise continues to evolve across film and gaming, the line between the two has suddenly been blurred — and this latest endorsement suggests that the next cinematic version of 007 may already be hiding in plain sight.
The upcoming game is certainly being treated with the same love and care as the Bond films. For instance, the official theme song from musician Lana Del Rey — which shares its name with the game — has now been released, along with the accompanying opening title sequence.
Gibson’s Bond May Be in for the Long Haul
While only one game has been confirmed, Patrick Gibson’s version of the character may be around for years yet. In 2024, during an interview with IGN before 007 First Light was officially unveiled, IO Interactive boss Hakan Abrak said that there are hopes for the game to launch a “big trilogy”, with a Bond that can be “built from the ground up for gamers,” and one they can “call their own and grow with” throughout the course of more entries in the series.
He also said that a new 007 game series would grow alongside the next era of films from Amazon MGM: “I just hope we’ll do a thing that will define James Bond in gaming for years to come,” adding, “And that is not only one game, but that we create a universe for gamers to own for many years to come that we can grow with that next to the Bond on the movies.”
007 First Light will be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows on May 27, 2026. Its Nintendo Switch 2 release has been pushed back to an unspecified date later this year.
Will you be playing 007 First Light? Do you think Patrick Gibson should play Bond in the next film? Let us know in the comments below!
