Jacob Elordi Is Reportedly in Pole Position to Become the Youngest James Bond in Franchise History
The James Bond franchise is entering one of its most consequential chapters in decades. After long-serving producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson stepped down, Amazon MGM Studios assumed full creative control over the iconic spy series. Denis Villeneuve, the director behind ‘Dune’ and ‘Blade Runner 2049’, is now confirmed to helm the reboot, with ‘Peaky Blinders’ creator Steven Knight penning the screenplay.
The weight of that creative team has sharpened expectations considerably, and so has the casting conversation around the next 007. Jacob Elordi, the 28-year-old Australian star of ‘Euphoria’ and Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’, has been riding considerable momentum, having earned an Oscar nomination and taken home the Critics Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as the creature in that film. He is also appearing in director Emerald Fennell’s ‘Wuthering Heights’.
Now the chatter around Elordi and Bond has moved well beyond fan speculation. Marina Hyde, a writer for The Guardian, stated on The Rest is Entertainment podcast that she had heard from multiple sources that Elordi is in “pole position” to be the new James Bond. Hyde noted that a well-placed source had told her Amazon MGM was quietly pushing for him, though no formal offer has been sent out, and that Elordi was likely to have a screen test in 2026.
That report builds directly on earlier exclusive reporting from Showbiz411’s Roger Friedman, a journalist with more than a decade of breaking entertainment news, who reported that Elordi has had meetings with Bond producers, Amazon MGM, and director Denis Villeneuve. Villeneuve is expected to have meaningful input on casting, and so far there has been no indication of any pushback from the director regarding Elordi.
If cast, Elordi would become the second Australian actor to play Bond after George Lazenby in ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’, the tallest 007 on record at six feet and five inches, and the youngest actor to ever take on the role. That last detail aligns with reports that Amazon MGM has been specifically seeking a younger Bond to reboot the franchise and draw in a new generation of audiences.
The script by Steven Knight is said to draw heavily from Ian Fleming’s earliest novels, which could point toward an origin story revisiting Bond’s Royal Navy background and his path to earning his 00 status. Production is expected to begin in 2027, with a release targeted for 2028, marking the longest gap between Bond films since the franchise rebooted in 2006.
A final decision on who will play the next 007 is expected to be made in mid-2026. Amazon MGM’s head of film Courtenay Valenti has publicly stated that the studio is taking great care with the casting process, emphasizing that they are approaching it with deep respect for the franchise and its legacy.
With Elordi’s star rising faster than perhaps any actor of his generation right now, the question of whether he is truly the one to inherit the tuxedo is one the entire industry seems to be holding its breath over, so share your thoughts below on whether you think he is the right choice to carry Bond into a new era.
