Next James Bond search goes on; Amazon MGM has named no one

The hunt for the next actor to play James Bond is moving into its late stages, but no one has landed the part yet. Amazon MGM has not named an actor or set a date for an announcement, Variety reported, though Variety said the pick is expected before the end of the year.

Reports about which actors are in the running come from unnamed sources and have not been confirmed by the studio. For now, the only official word is that the studio has picked a director, producers and a writer for the film, according to Variety and Deadline.

Key facts

• Denis Villeneuve is set to direct the new Bond film for Amazon MGM, Variety reported.
• Casting director Nina Gold is running the auditions, per Variety.
• Amy Pascal and David Heyman are producing, Deadline said.
• Steven Knight was hired last summer to write the script, Deadline reported.
• Amazon MGM has named no one for the role and has not given a timeline, Variety reported.

Background

The search started in the spring, and a first round of auditions took place in August, Deadline said. Screen tests had been planned for earlier in October, but scheduling clashes moved them to the end of the month, Deadline reported.

The studio's role in the series is fairly new. Amazon MGM gained full creative control of the Bond franchise last year, Deadline said. Pascal and Heyman were the first people it brought on, and Villeneuve was chosen to direct after that, according to Deadline.

Whoever wins the part will follow Daniel Craig, who first played Bond in Casino Royale in 2006, NPR noted. The film role dates back to Sean Connery, who first took it on in Dr. No in 1962, NPR said. The character is older still: Ian Fleming wrote the novel Casino Royale in 1953, per NPR. Fleming borrowed the name James Bond from an American bird expert who wrote Birds of the West Indies, NPR reported.

Casting the spy has not always gone smoothly. Producer Cubby Broccoli once called his choice of George Lazenby for 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service the worst error he had made in 16 years, The Hollywood Reporter noted. Lazenby made only one Bond film, and Sean Connery came back after him, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

What the actors have said

Only a few public comments have touched on the search, and none come from the studio. Gary Oldman, Lowden's co-star in "Slow Horses," said in public that Lowden had made the shortlist, Variety reported. The studio has not confirmed that comment or named anyone it is considering.

At the Berlin Film Festival in February, Callum Turner was asked about the Bond talk and answered, "It's very early for that question," Variety reported. Amazon MGM did not immediately answer Variety's request for comment, Variety said.

Other outlets have shared lists of actors said to be in the mix, but those lists do not match each other and rest on unnamed sources.

What it means for you

For fans, the main point is that nothing is settled. Reports about who is in the running are not official, and the studio could pick someone not named in any of them, as Variety's report on the search makes clear.

The choice also matters because the job is long. The Hollywood Reporter says the actor who gets the part can expect to sign on for four or five films, according to the outlet. Barbara Broccoli said in 2022 that taking on Bond ties an actor to the role for 10 to 12 years, The Hollywood Reporter noted. A single Bond film usually takes about nine months to make, The Hollywood Reporter said.

That means the person chosen could shape the series for a decade or more.

Practical steps

• Treat a name as final only after Amazon MGM itself confirms it, based on Variety's report.
• When you see a report about the role, check whether it names its source or relies on unnamed insiders.
• Read the reporting from Variety, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter for the latest on the search.

What happens next

Deadline reported that the studio has handed out at least four offers for screen tests, and that the tests could start as soon as Friday and continue into the following week, according to Deadline. Variety reported that an announcement is expected before the end of the year, per its report. Amazon MGM itself has not given a date.

FAQ

Has the next James Bond been cast? No. Amazon MGM has not named anyone and has not shared an official timeline, Variety reported.

Who is directing the next Bond film? Denis Villeneuve is set to direct it for Amazon MGM, per Variety.

Who is writing the script? Steven Knight, who was hired last summer, Deadline reported.

Who is producing the film? Amy Pascal and David Heyman, according to Deadline.

Who is running the auditions? Casting director Nina Gold, Variety said.

How long is the commitment for the new Bond? The Hollywood Reporter says the actor can expect four or five films, according to the outlet.

Who played Bond most recently, and who was first? Daniel Craig first played the role in Casino Royale in 2006, and Sean Connery was the first film Bond in Dr. No in 1962, NPR noted.