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Credit: Inside the MagicThe next James Bond film is currently in production under Amazon MGM Studios, with Denis Villeneuve (Dune, Dune: Part Two) on board as director, and Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) writing the screenplay.
The untitled reboot will be the 26th official outing for the character in theaters (27th if you count the non-Eon film, Never Say Never Again, with Sean Connery), marking the 007 franchise’s return to theaters following Daniel Craig’s five-film series, which ended with No Time to Die (2021).
Related: Previous James Bond’s Return in New Sequel Confirmed, Title and Release Date Revealed
Who Will Play James Bond in the New Film?
Several actors have had their names tossed around as potential contenders since Craig’s exit, including Tom Holland (Spider-Man: No Way Home), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (28 Years Later), Idris Elba (Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw), Henry Golding (Last Christmas), and most recently, Jacob Elordi (Wuthering Heights) and Callum Turner (Eternity).
Talk of a female James Bond has even circulated, which has, unsurprisingly, proven hugely divisive among longtime fans and general audiences.
The idea of a female version of the globe-trotting MI6 spy has been rejected by several key figures from the franchise, including Daniel Craig himself, his No Time to Die co-star Ana de Armas, and longtime Bond producer Barbara Broccoli.
Related: Amazon Drastically Changes James Bond’s Identity After 63 Years Ahead of Movie Reboot
Female 007 Star Officially Revealed
Now, a female star has landed an iconic James Bond role. Not the role of the MI6 spy, but as the artist bringing us the latest Bond theme.
The Bond theme is as much an ingredient of a 007 outing as the actor himself, the iconic opening credits, the Walther PPK, the tux, the gadgets, the villain, the lot.
Classics like Shirley Bassey’s “Goldfinger,” Duran Duran’s “A View to a Kill,” and Tina Turner’s “GoldenEye” span the Sean Connery through Pierce Brosnan eras, while Craig’s tenure includes hits such as Chris Cornell’s “You Know My Name,” Adele’s “Skyfall”, and Billie Eilish’s “No Time to Die.”
Recently, Olivia Dean emerged as the favorite to sing the next Bond theme, according to a statement from bookmakers William Hill. But last year, Lana Del Rey was rumored to be shouldering the responsibility of delivering the next song.
Next James Bond Reboot Unveils Female Star
Now, it has been revealed that the “Summertime Sadness” singer is indeed the latest artist to contribute to a Bond installment. However, it’s not for the new film, but the highly anticipated video game, 007 First Light, the upcoming third-person action-adventure from IO Interactive.
“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 reads.
Last year, it was reported that Lana Del Rey had registered a song titled “First Light” with ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, which fueled speculation about her involvement. Now, that song has been unveiled in an official lyric video, which you can watch below:
007 First Light has already found its new Bond in Irish actor Patrick Gibson, too. He’s currently best known for the Paramount+ series, Dexter: Original Sin (2024).
The game’s 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).
007 First Light will be released on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows on May 27, 2026.
There’s no release date for the untitled film reboot.
What do you think of the new Bond theme? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!