Denis Villeneuve Moves Forward With James Bond Casting – Here’s What Fans Can Expect

The next James Bond film is slowly taking shape, and fans are eager to know who will become the new 007. Daniel Craig’s final outing as the spy was No Time To Die in 2021, and since then speculation about the next actor has been nonstop.

According to sources familiar with the project, director Denis Villeneuve will start looking for a new Bond next year after finishing production on Dune: Part Three.

Villeneuve, known for Dune and Prisoners, is teaming up with screenwriter Steven Knight, who created Peaky Blinders, and producers David Heyman and Amy Pascal. Pascal, who worked on the recent Spider-Man films and also produced Casino Royale, will be a key voice in shaping the project.

The team is said to be searching for a “fresh face” to take on the role.

Deadline tells us the new Bond will be male, as Ian Fleming originally wrote, and importantly, British. “Yes, they want a Brit to play Bond,” source said. This rules out speculation about actors like Timothée Chalamet, Austin Butler, Glen Powell, or Jacob Elordi, who are not from the U.K.

The team is reportedly leaning toward an unknown actor, probably in his late 20s or early 30s, to match Fleming’s description of Bond as a “blunt instrument,” lethal but unremarkable in everyday life.

That means older actors, including Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, and Henry Cavill, are likely not under serious consideration. Even Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jack Lowden could be on the older side when filming begins, possibly in 2027. “Whoever it is, has to look like he could kill you with his bare hands in a trice. From the moment you see him, that has to be readily apparent,” a source close to the discussions said.

Steven Knight’s script is expected to explore Bond’s early years, possibly showing him as a Royal Navy Commander before joining MI6.

Sources suggest the story will take Bond back to his origins and not continue from the ending of No Time To Die. “It’s a new Bond, a new start, a fresh everything,” one insider said. Few people from the previous films are expected to be involved, though some veteran Bond advisors might quietly offer guidance.

The casting process has already attracted an unprecedented number of submissions, from both well-known actors and complete newcomers. “Every name you’ve heard of, and many you’ve never heard of,” a source said. But the real search won’t start until Villeneuve finishes Dune: Part Three.

There’s also room for diversity in the new Bond, as sources emphasized that the key consideration is whether the actor is right for the story Villeneuve and Knight want to tell.

Bond fans can expect a fresh take on the iconic spy, with a focus on a younger, British 007 who fits Fleming’s original vision. It will be a completely new chapter in the franchise.

This approach makes sense. Starting fresh allows the filmmakers to build a new Bond world without being limited by past stories. It will be exciting to see who takes on the role and how this new version of 007 is shaped. What do you think about the direction Villeneuve and the team are taking for Bond 26? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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