A New 30-Year-Old Face? Latest Updates on the Next 007 Film

With Denis Villeneuve confirmed to direct the next 007 film a few months ago, the focus has quickly shifted to the all-important casting of James Bond.

Deadline recently reported that Denis Villeneuve, the director of the next 007 film, will begin the search for the new James Bond/007 after he completes production on Dune: Part Three next year. The film's production team is reportedly looking for a new English face around 30 years old to take on the iconic role. This criteria makes several well-known, rumored actors, including Tom Holland (Spider-Man franchise), Harris Dickinson (Triangle of Sadness) and Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein) unlikely to be shortlisted. The screenplay for the film is currently being written by Steven Knight, the creator of Peaky Blinders. The story is reportedly set to explore James Bond's origins, beginning with his service in the Royal Navy before detailing his recruitment and transition into an agent for the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6).The film is tentatively scheduled to begin shooting in 2027, aiming for a 2028 release.

The 007 film series was historically distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, which was acquired by Amazon in 2022 and subsequently reorganized under Amazon MGM. In February of this year, Amazon MGM took full creative control of the 007 series. Long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, who had overseen the franchise since 1995's GoldenEye, are no longer involved in the production. Instead, Spider-Man series producer Amy Pascal and Harry Potter film series producer David Heyman will serve as producers for the new era of Bond.

Over the past few months, the studio has been actively searching for a director. Earlier, two-time Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity, Roma) was in discussions but ultimately did not sign on. Other candidates considered included Edward Berger (BAFTA Best Film winner Conclave), Edgar Wright (Baby Driver), Paul King (Wonka), and the brother of Academy Awards Best Director winner Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer), Jonathan Nolan (Westworld). Ultimately, Denis Villeneuve emerged as the chosen director.

Denis Villeneuve is currently one of Hollywood's most highly regarded directors. The Canadian director's early works primarily consisted of Canadian independent films, with Incendies even earning an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. He then transitioned to Hollywood, directing films such as Prisoners, Sicario, Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, and the two Dune films. All of these films have received Oscar nominations, with Dune winning six awards. Notably, his action-thriller Sicario, which revolves around an FBI agent pursuing Mexican drug cartel, may share a tonal similarity with 007 films. In fact, as early as 2017, when MGM was looking for a director for No Time to Die, Denis Villeneuve was among the top contenders. It's remarkable that nearly a decade later, he is finally set to direct a new installment in the series.

Denis Villeneuve is currently directing Dune: Part Three, based on Dune Messiah, with an release date of December 2026. In addition to the returning cast from the previous two films, new additions to this installment include Jason Momoa's son, Nakoa-Wolf Momoa, and Ida Brooke, who will play the twin children of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and Chani (Zendaya). Robert Pattinson (The Batman) is also reportedly playing the film's villain.

If you are interested in upcoming movies to be released in Canada, please visit the Movie Release Schedule page on this website!

Photo: 007

Source: Deadline