James Bond is officially entering a new era, and it’s shaping up to be a bold departure from the familiar. With Denis Villeneuve now confirmed to direct the 26th Bond film, Amazon is moving quickly, at least by Bond standards, to build the next phase of the iconic franchise.
That said, don’t expect to see 007 back on the big screen until 2028. According to sources close to production, anything sooner would be unrealistic given the scope of the film and Villeneuve’s packed schedule.
Villeneuve beat out some heavy hitters for the director’s chair. Edward Berger, Edgar Wright, Paul King, and Jonathan Nolan were all reportedly in the mix. The director of Dune and Blade Runner 2049 has long expressed his desire to helm a Bond film, and Amazon finally gave him thegreen light. The studio is now focused on attaching a screenwriter and, of course, casting the new face of Bond.
That face is going to be younger. Amazon and producers are reportedly seeking a British actor under 30, and the current shortlist includes Saltburn’s Jacob Elordi, Spider-Man’s Tom Holland, and Harris Dickinson from Babygirl.
While Elordi is Australian, insiders say that’s not a dealbreaker, after all, George Lazenby was too, and he once wore the tux in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Long-rumored contenders like Aaron Taylor-Johnson (35), Henry Cavill (42), and Idris Elba (52) are seen as too old for what Amazon is aiming to build.
Alfonso Cuarón was an early contender to direct, and was pushed strongly by producer David Heyman due to their collaboration on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. But Cuarón ultimately stepped away to prioritize other projects, including Jane, a Charlize Theron-led film also at Amazon.
Amazon also made a serious attempt to land Christopher Nolan, even to the point of considering breaking one of the franchise’s long-standing rules, denying directors final cut. That rule, enforced for decades by Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson, was one of the ways EON Productions maintained creative control.
But the Broccoli family has now stepped back from day-to-day creative oversight and retains only a financial stake. Nolan, however, is unavailable for the foreseeable future as he’s deep in pre-production on The Odyssey.
As for Villeneuve, his Bond deal is a one-and-done. He’s not signed on for any sequels and won’t have final cut. Before he even starts rolling cameras on Bond, he’s committed to filming Dune: Messiah, which is aiming for a December 2026 release.
Amazon’s next move is to lock in a writer, and while Jonathan Nolan was floated as a strong candidate, his Bond pitch was reportedly well-received, he’s tied up with the series Fallout and unavailable. Still, there’s no shortage of writing talent circling the property, and Amazon is determined to define a fresh identity for their version of Bond.
Bond 26 may still be a few years away, but the new direction will involve a younger 007, a more cinematic director, and the first major reboot under a new studio.
Source: Variety
