The Latest Rumours About Denis Villeneuve’s James Bond Movie Sound Extremely Promising

• Amazon-MGM Studios continues to assuage our fears about the post-Barbara Broccoli & Michael G. Wilson era of James Bond – at least if the casting and story rumours are to be believed.
• Industry insiders have assured 007 will remain male, British (of any race), appear physically capable, and – in line with screenwriter Steven Knight’s supposed origin story angle – be in his late 20s/early 30s.
• But contrary to the ongoing belief that a name has already been decided on, casting will not begin in earnest until director Denis Villeneuve completes Dune Part III.

Despite having now confirmed a director in Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners, Sicario, Dune) and locked in screenwriter Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders, SAS: Rogue Heroes), we’re still none the wiser about the exact dimensions of Amazon-MGM Studio’s inaugural James Bond film.

But behind-the-camera talent aside, the latest casting and story rumours have certainly instilled a greater sense of optimism.

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According to Deadline‘s veteran industry insider, Baz Bamigboye, sources familiar with the matter have indicated Bond 26 is currently seeking a “fresh face” to assume the iconic screen mantle of 007.

“Also, Bond… James Bond will be male, as written by creator Ian Fleming, and importantly, will be an actor who hails from the British Isles. Yes, they want a Brit to play Bond,” explains Bamigboye.

“That rules out fanciful speculation that the likes of Timothée Chalamet, Glen Powell, Austin Butler, Jacob Elordi, and others who don’t hail from UK shores are in the running.”

These same sources have outlined the criteria beyond being British: ideally, an unknown, possibly in his late 20s/early 30s, with the ability to portray Fleming’s “blunt instrument” (“the lethal but extremely dull, uninteresting man to whom things happened”).

An unprecedented number of applicants have already sent in their pitch to play James Bond to the production. “Every name you’ve heard of, and many you’ve never heard of,” a well-placed mole revealed. “We’ve been flooded.” 

“Frankly, 99.9% of the names we’ve heard speculated online so far won’t make the cut.”

In other words, by virtue of age alone, you can kiss goodbye to any hope of seeing Tom Hardy (47), Henry Cavill (42), or Idris Elba (47) unholstering a Walther PPK for the killshot. Potentially even the odds-on favourite, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, due to his elevated profile and age by the time cameras finally roll (even with his freshly-inked Omega contract).

“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.”

… aaand there goes Tom Holland.

Last month, a seemingly perfect candidate appeared in the form of the red-headed Scott Rose-Marsh (Yr Amgueddfa, Chloe, The Outlaws, Krays: Code of Silence).

The Hollywood Reporter noted that the emerging British thespian who was still working a call centre job up until 2020 had even screen-tested for Villeneuve – reading sides from 1995’s GoldenEye as well as early pages “whipped up” by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, guided by one piece of crucial direction: don’t impersonate a previous Bond. You can read more about the alleged contender here.

In terms of story, based on the “many conversations” Baz Bamigboye has had on the matter, Steven Knight intends to revisit Bond’s origins as a Royal Navy Commander before being recruited by MI6 to “perhaps chart how Bond attained 007 status.”

Personally speaking, expanding upon the killer cold open of Casino Royale with Daniel Craig sounds electric to us.

“I want to stress that this is what I’m hearing, but also caution that none of this is confirmed or fully formed because the script is still being written and the direction of travel is still up for grabs,” caveats Bamigboye.

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He continues: “While we’re here, it’s worth pointing out the obvious: Bond 26 will not take up where No Time To Die, the final iteration in the franchise under Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, left us with Bond dead.”

“‘It’s a new Bond, a new start, a fresh everything,’ is how it was put to me by a key source who adds that it’s unlikely many associated with the past Bond regime will be involved with Bond 26. That said, I suspect a few old Bond hands might well be consulted on the quiet in the snug of a private club in Pall Mall, London.”

At the time of this writing, casting reportedly won’t be undertaken until after Denis Villeneuve wraps on Dune Part III, ahead of cameras rolling in 2027, and a projected late-2028 release date (“There’s a lot of talk about the movie premiering in the November slot favoured by past Bond movies”).

Keep an eye out here for key details as they surface.