Next 007 could be revealed by year-end as Bond casting nears finish
The studio officially confirmed in May 2026 that casting was under way. Entertainment reporter Daniel Richtman recently said producers were in the "final round of casting" and may have "already found their guy"
Amazon MGM Studios appears to be nearing a decision on who will play James Bond in the next instalment of the long-running film franchise, with reports suggesting producers have reached the final stage of casting.
According to the BBC, the studio officially confirmed in May 2026 that casting was under way. Entertainment reporter Daniel Richtman recently said producers were in the "final round of casting" and may have "already found their guy".
Industry insider Jeff Sneider separately said he had heard the pool of candidates had been reduced from seven to three and then to the actor ultimately selected. Sneider said, however, that he believed the choice was not among some of the prominent frontrunners, including "the Aussie", a reference to Brisbane- and Melbourne-raised actor Jacob Elordi.
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Producer Amy Pascal indicated in late August that an official announcement before the end of the year was "a good bet".
Among the actors who have been linked to the role over the past several months or years are Henry Cavill, Harris Dickinson, Jacob Elordi, Jack Lowden, James Norton, Jack O'Connell, Callum Turner and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
Stage actor Tom Francis was also reported earlier this year to have auditioned for the role. Reports in late August said further auditions scheduled for September would include Gladiator II star Paul Mescal and Heartstopper actor Jack Barton.
A producer announcement saying the studio intends to keep Bond's spirit alive "as he embarks on his next adventure" appears to indicate that the character will continue to be portrayed as a man.
A demanding screen test
The casting process for Bond is known for its emphasis on the character's presence and charisma rather than physical action.
Would-be Bonds are typically asked to perform a scene from From Russia With Love in which 007 emerges from a bathroom and discovers Soviet clerk Tatiana Romanova in his bed.
The scene contains no stunts, gadgets or explosions, allowing producers to assess whether an actor can convey Bond's characteristic "effortless", economical and efficient manner.
The screen tests are elaborate productions, with professional hair and makeup, formal costumes, custom-built sets and co-actors used to recreate the scene.
The actor eventually selected will become the seventh performer to officially portray Bond in the film series, following Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.
A different kind of reveal
The announcement of the next Bond could also reflect the changing corporate structure of the franchise.
Previous actors, including Craig in 2005, were unveiled at press conferences in London. Amazon acquired MGM for $8.5 billion and subsequently secured greater creative control over the Bond franchise, potentially giving the company an opportunity to use its Prime Video platform to introduce the new actor.
One date attracting particular attention from Bond fans is 5 Oct, Global James Bond Day, which marks the 64th anniversary of the release of Dr. No, the first film in the series.
No official announcement date has been confirmed, however, and Amazon MGM has yet to publicly identify its choice for the next 007.
