Credit: Inside the MagicThe next era of James Bond is beginning to take shape as Amazon MGM’s movie reboot moves forward following Daniel Craig’s final outing as 007 in No Time to Die (2021).
The film will be directed by Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024) filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight writing the screenplay and Amy Pascal and David Heyman producing. The project will mark the first Bond film developed under Amazon MGM’s creative leadership and will introduce an entirely new actor as the iconic British spy.
Now, with development underway, speculation around who will inherit the licence to kill continues. Several names have already surfaced in reports, fan discussions, and betting markets. Among the actors most frequently linked to the part is Euphoria and Saltburn star Jacob Elordi, who has reportedly held early meetings connected to the project.
Other actors often mentioned in online chatter include Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Henry Cavill (Man of Steel), Callum Turner (Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore), Tom Holland (Spider-Man: No Way Home), and Idris Elba (Luther), all of whom have faced varying levels of speculation since Craig stepped down from the role.
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Rarely, if ever, has an actor thrown their own name into the ring themselves. However, Rogue One (2016) actor Riz Ahmed did just that during a Sundance interview at the Variety Studio presented by Audible while promoting his new project. During an appearance tied to his Prime Video series Bait, Ahmed jokingly leaned into the ongoing debate around who should slip into the tuxedo and pick up the PPK.
“Everyone has an audition for Bond,” he said. “Daniel Craig’s was Layer Cake… This [Bait] is my audition for Bond. I dare anyone to watch this show and think we shouldn’t play Bond.”
Bait, which was written by and stars Ahmed, follows a British-Pakistani actor whose career becomes entangled in the public frenzy surrounding the Bond casting speculation after his audition for the role goes viral. The series explores the cultural conversation around who gets to portray the iconic character while examining the pressures tied to high-profile franchise roles.
The actor even joked that he would be open to taking on the role, adding that he would not mind who ultimately plays Bond “as long as it is me.”
Amazon MGM Studios has not announced a casting decision for Bond, and production timelines remain under wraps. Last year, Deadline reported that the team is looking for an “unknown” British actor in their late 20s and early 30s, which seemingly rules out most the actors already mentioned.
For now, the search for the next 007 continues to fuel industry debate as one of cinema’s most closely watched casting races moves forward.
Bait streams March 25 on Prime Video. There’s no release date for the new Bond film.
Who do you think should play James Bond in the upcoming reboot? Let us know!