Earlier this year, the next James Bond movie, tentatively referred to as Bond 26, took a significant step forward when Oscar-nominated filmmaker Denis Villeneuve signed on to direct. Given Villeneuve’s track record of making critically acclaimed, big-budget genre works like the Dune movies and Blade Runner 2049, many fans are excited to see what he can do in the 007 sandbox. It’s great to see a talented director like Villeneuve involved, but the even bigger question is who will suit up to be his James Bond. Fans have suggested several actors for the role over the years, though it sounds like none of those popular picks stand much of a chance.
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According to Deadline, Villeneuve will be searching for a “fresh face” in either his late 20s or early 30s to play 007 in Bond 26 when the casting process begins. Villeneuve won’t begin his search until some point next year, after he’s finished with Dune: Messiah (which is currently in production). The filmmakers will be looking for a British male to play the iconic spy.
Denis Villeneuve’s Casting Strategy is What’s Best for James Bond
Over the summer, a reported Bond 26 wishlist made the rounds, with the likes of Tom Holland, Jacob Elordi, and Harris Dickinson said to be near the top. This latest update would seemingly take all three out of the running, as none of them meet Villeneuve’s “unknown” requirement. Holland, of course, is a global star thanks to his work as Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Elordi and Dickinson aren’t as famous as Holland, but they’re each recognizable thanks to their work in projects like Euphoria and Babygirl.
Fans have long campaigned for veteran actors such as Idris Elba and Henry Cavill to don Bond’s tux, but the targeted age range means those dreams won’t come true. That was to be expected, as Amazon is certainly searching for a young thespian who can carry the franchise for years to come. Daniel Craig was 37 when he was cast as Bond for Casino Royale, and it sounds like Villeneuve and Co. are looking for someone even younger than that. It’ll be interesting to see what ramifications that has on the Bond 26 story. If it’s starring someone in his late 20s or early 30s, the narrative would seemingly be set early in Bond’s career at MI6, perhaps shortly after he received his license to kill. This would allow the character to grow in subsequent installments.
Whoever the next Bond is, fans won’t find out for a while. Understandably, Dune 3 is the top priority for Villeneuve at the moment, wrapping up his time in the epic sci-fi franchise. The first two Dune films were major box office hits and Best Picture nominees, so Villeneuve wants to take his time with that project to ensure it clears the high bar he’s set. Thankfully, there’s no rush to get cameras rolling on Bond 26. No release date has been set, though Deadline notes 2028 is the target window. That production timeline makes sense. Villeneuve and producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman will undoubtedly cast a very wide net, auditioning a plethora of actors for Bond. This extensive process will be quite time-consuming, so it’s arguably better to take care of casting in 2026 and then start production in 2027.
Some people will be upset to hear their fantasy James Bond casting doesn’t have a chance of panning out, but it’s for the best to go with an unknown. It’ll be easier for moviegoers to see the new actor as James Bond if they aren’t bringing so much baggage with them into the theater. Sometimes, it can be difficult to see past established faces, so Villeneuve is going in the opposite direction. A younger actor disappear into the role and really leave his mark. And there’s always a chance someone like Elba or Cavill could land a different part in the movie, as long as they’re the right choice.
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