Credit: Inside the MagicAmazon MGM’s James Bond film reboot is now in development. Although the project had already confirmed the involvement of director Denis Villeneuve and writer Steven Knight, the studio has now revealed that the hunt for the new 007 has begun, with casting director Nina Gold leading the search for an actor to replace Daniel Craig following his exit in 2021’s No Time to Die.
The film is being produced by David Heyman (the Harry Potter films) and Amy Pascal (Spider-Man: Homecoming).
James Bond Movie Reboot
Who Is the New 007 James Bond?
Speculation about who will pick up the PPK and don the tux has circulated since Craig announced his departure. Now, everyone from Tom Holland (Spider-Man: Brand New Day) to Jacob Elordi (Wuthering Heights) has been floated as a potential candidate by fans and outlets.
With the search for the next Bond in its early stages, it will be some time before we find out who it is. Meanwhile, several other 007 stories have either just hit shelves or are set to arrive this year.
The most obvious of those latest additions is of course the new game 007 First Light from IO Interactive, which stars Irish actor Patrick Gibson, previously best known for playing the young Dexter Morgan in the Paramount+ series Dexter: Original Sin (2024), as the new James Bond.
Several official new James Bond books are also being rolled out. King Zero, an adult story set within the Young Bond series hits shelves on September 24, The Man with the Golden Compass releases on October 22, and James Bond and the Secret Agent Academy arrives April 2027.
And yet another upcoming 007 outing, based on Higson’s novel Young Bond: SilverFin, has cast its own James Bond with Isaac Rouse. Young Bond: SilverFin Part 1 will be available in October.
Related:Â James Bond Undergoes Historic Changes After 64 Years Ahead of Amazon Reboot
Female James Bond Rumors
Is There Going To Be a Female 007?
Amid all of those many new 007 projects, whatever happened to those female Bond rumors?
While there are no plans for a female 007, the wider franchise has seen plenty of female equivalents. As for a female version of the actual character of Bond, there has been plenty of pushback, and not just from fans, but from some well-known celebrities, too, including Daniel Craig himself and his No Time to Die co-star Ana de Armas, who have publicly opposed the idea.
Previous long-time Bond producer Barbara Broccoli has also said that Bond should be played by a man.
Earlier this year, Paul Feig, director of the 2016 all-female Ghostbusters reboot, however, championed megastar Sydney Sweeney to be considered to play a female Bond in Amazon MGM’s film reboot.
Now, Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham has become the latest celebrity to share her thoughts on the controversial idea of a female actor playing Bond.
Per The News, while speaking at a special screening of her new Prime Video series Ride or Die, in which she plays Judith Burton, a woman who leads a double life as an assassin, Waddingham was asked whether she would ever like to play the iconic MI6 secret agent, to which she replied:
“No! God no! No, this [Burton] is my version of 007. A woman doesn’t need to play James Bond, we’ve got other things to do.”
Hannah Waddingham’s Ride or Die premieres on Prime Video on July 15.
Another Iconic Spy Could Be “Gender-Swapped”
Meanwhile, another iconic spy could be played by a female actor.
Recently, according to The InSneider (via World of Reel), a major Bourne reboot is in development, with Universal reportedly searching for a new actor to replace Matt Damon having reacquired the IP. Jeff Sneider says that one of his “very best sources” told him that none other than Zendaya (the MCU’s Spider-Man saga, the Dune films) has been involved in discussions.
There’s no release date for the next James Bond film.
What do you think about the idea of a female James Bond? Let us know in the comments!
