New James Bond Actor: 007 Casting Officially Underway!

It's finally happening: Casting for the new James Bond has begun! Amazon MGM has now officially confirmed this. As Variety reports, the company has brought on board Nina Gold, a renowned casting director. This is expected to answer the question on everyone's mind: Who will be the new James Bond? Amazon MGM issued the following statement regarding the casting process:

"The search for the next James Bond is underway. While we don't plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we're excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right."

The Search for the Next 007

A few months ago, Deadline already reported on the casting profile. According to the report, they are looking for a "fresh face" and are apparently less interested in big-name actors. This means that previously discussed names like Henry Cavill are likely out of the running. The idea is to cast a male actor around 30 years old. Additionally, the Bond actor is supposed to be British.

With Nina Gold, they now have an experienced casting director on board. She is known for her work on numerous blockbusters and major series such as "Game of Thrones," "Star Wars," "Chernobyl," and "The Martian."

When will the new James Bond film be released?

So what does the schedule look like for the 26th Bond film? According to reports, casting and pre-production are scheduled for 2026. Filming is set to follow in 2027. 007 fans can therefore hope for a 2028 release date.

So what can we expect from the new "Bond" film? And how will the changes behind the scenes affect the franchise? In our film preview, we've taken a close look at the upcoming 007 film.

The Bond Actors So Far

Over the decades, the role of James Bond has been shaped by several iconic actors. It all began with Sean Connery, who turned the secret agent into a global phenomenon in the 1960s. He was followed by George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and most recently, Daniel Craig. Highlights of the Craig era included "Casino Royale" and "Skyfall." The most recent film in the series is "No Time to Die." Each actor has given the famous 007 his own style, constantly reinterpreting the character.

Denis Villeneuve takes over as director

For many fans, the choice of director is sure to be a delight: Denis Villeneuve is taking the helm. The Canadian filmmaker is one of the most sought-after directors of our time and has been winning over audiences and critics alike for years.

His Hollywood career began with the acclaimed thrillers "Prisoners" and "Sicario," before he made his mark on the sci-fi genre with "Arrival" and "Blade Runner 2049." Most recently, he set visual standards with the "Dune" films. "Dune 3" is set to hit theaters on December 17, 2026. Villeneuve himself has been a huge Bond fan since childhood and describes the franchise as "sacred ground" that he intends to respectfully carry forward while also opening it up to new stories.

Steven Knight, known as the creator of the hit series "Peaky Blinders" and the series "Taboo," has been hired as screenwriter. He has also established himself in cinema, for example with the screenplay for David Cronenberg's "Eastern Promises."

What can we expect from the new Bond film?

In terms of content, Steven Knight's screenplay is reportedly based on Ian Fleming's early novels—such as "Casino Royale," "Moonraker," or "Dr. No." The focus could be on a younger version of James Bond, possibly even before his time at MI6. A similar approach was already taken during the Daniel Craig era, which initially portrayed the character as raw and unformed.

The combination of Villeneuve and Knight also suggests a dark, intense tone. Both are known for uncompromising thrillers featuring complex, morally ambivalent characters. A classic, light-footed action Bond is therefore unlikely—instead, we might be presented with a serious and mature "Bond" film.

Amazon Takes Over Bond: The Future of 007

Another major change took place outside the creative realm: Since early 2025, creative control over the "James Bond" franchise has been in the hands of Amazon MGM. This stems from Amazon's acquisition of MGM in 2022. The rights to Bond remain jointly held by MGM and Eon Productions, but creative control has now been handed over to Amazon.

This marks a significant turning point in the series' history, as Eon Productions has been primarily responsible for the films for decades. Concrete plans have not yet been officially confirmed, but it is possible that the franchise will be expanded further in the future—for example, through TV series. Formats like "007: Road to a Million" already point to a possible direction, and further spin-offs are at least conceivable.