Edge Rewrite
everything Source code View original
// HTMLRewriter · presentation

This page was redesigned at the edge.

Cloudflare fetched the original article and streamed it through HTMLRewriter to apply an entirely new visual system without rebuilding the source page.

// request.cf · coarse context

A page that knows where it met you.

Only coarse request metadata is shown. This demo does not display or persist visitor IP addresses.

Country
US
Cloudflare location
CMH
Connection
HTTP/2
Language
Not provided

Ray ID: a23487f10a460abb

Jump to content

Draft:Bond 26

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bond 26
Directed byDenis Villeneuve
Screenplay bySteven Knight
Based on
James Bond
by Ian Fleming
Produced by
Production
companies
Distributed by
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
LanguageEnglish

Bond 26 is the working title of an upcoming spy film directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Steven Knight. The twenty-sixth instalment in the James Bond film series, it is produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and the first film in the MGM series to not involve the Broccoli family as producers nor Eon Productions.[1]

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

In December 2021, Barbara Broccoli expressed interest in seeing No Time to Die director Cary Joji Fukunaga return to direct another film in the James Bond film series.[2] By July 2023, Skyfall (2012) and Spectre (2015) director Sam Mendes revealed that he had declined a 'generous' offer to return to direct the film.[3]

In December 2024, it was reported that development on the film had stalled due to continual disagreements between Barbara Broccoli and Amazon, who acquired MGM in 2022. According to reports, Amazon was insisting on expanding the Bond series into a shared universe similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) with additional materials such as spin-off films and television series, with one idea thrown around being a prequel series centered on Miss Moneypenny.[4] Broccoli was harshly dismissive of the proposals, and was quoted as saying "Don't let temporary people make permanent decisions", a quote credited to her father Albert R. Broccoli. Broccoli was more notably quoted as calling executives at Amazon "fucking idiots".[5]

On 20 February 2025, it was announced that Amazon MGM Studios would fully take over both creative control and production of the series and that Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson would leave the series but remain co-owners, making this the first official Bond film to not involve Eon Productions and the first Bond film overall to be produced without the involvement of the Broccoli family since Never Say Never Again (1983).[6] The deal was believed to be worth around $20 million, though some suggested that Broccoli and Wilson would earn as much as $1 billion from the buyout deal.[7] IndieWire reported that Amazon CEO and founder Jeff Bezos was quoted as saying "[I] read her quote in the Journal and got on the phone and said, 'I don't care what it costs, get rid of her" in response to Broccoli's "fucking idiots" comment.[5]

In March 2025, Amy Pascal and David Heyman were in final talks to serve as producers, and oversee the James Bond franchise moving forward; Amazon would confirm their involvement days later, with Pascal Pictures and Heyday Films joining the film as production companies.[8][9][10] In June, Denis Villeneuve was announced to direct the film. He will also serve as an executive producer alongside Tanya Lapointe.[11] The studio had also met with Edward Berger, Alfonso Cuarón, Paul King, Jonathan Nolan and Edgar Wright before Villeneuve was hired.[12] Villeneuve had expressed his interest on doing a James Bond back in 2015 due to being raised with them during an interview about his film Sicario (2015).[13] In 2017, Broccoli and Craig later approached him to direct No Time to Die, but was forced to decline due to his commitments to Dune (2021).[14][15] Ironically, Villeneuve jokingly predicted himself directing the next James Bond film after No Time to Die in an interview in late 2017.[16] That same month, Matthew Belloni reported for Puck News that Villeneuve was only signed on to direct the one film, but that could change if proven successful. He also indicated that Villeneuve would not have final cut privilege.[17] In late July, Steven Knight had been hired to write the screenplay.[18]

Casting

[edit]

After Spectre (2015), there was speculation that it would be the final James Bond film to star Daniel Craig. In May 2016, it was reported that Craig had received a $100 million offer from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to do two more Bond films, but turned it down.[19] In October 2016, Craig denied having made a decision at that time. He further denied that $150 million was offered to him for the next two instalments.[20] In August 2017, Craig said that the next film, later revealed to be No Time to Die (2021), would mark his final appearance as Bond on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.[21]

In September 2021, series producer Barbara Broccoli stated that the search to find the lead actor to play Bond for the twenty-sixth film would begin in 2022.[2] In December 2021, Broccoli stated that the next portrayal of the character would remain as male, though could be of any ethnicity or race.[22]

Following Rebel Wilson's hosting of the 75th British Academy Film Awards in March 2022, she got into contact with Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson and auditioned for a role in the film.[23]

As of 2023, casting for a new actor to portray Bond was underway.[24] Variety reported in June 2025 that Amazon was seeking an actor under the age of 30 for the role of Bond, with Jacob Elordi, Tom Holland, and Harris Dickinson among the top contenders.[25] In September 2025, it was reported that Villeneuve would begin casting for Bond following his commitments to Dune: Part Three (2026), with the idea that it would be a young, unknown English actor.[26] In May 2026, Amazon MGM Studios officially announced that the casting search for the next actor to portray Bond had begun, with Nina Gold attached as the film's casting director.[27] It was reported casting was looking for a younger actor, with Elordi, Callum Turner, and Aidan Turner reported as being in the running.[28] Tom Francis auditioned for the role that same month.[29] By June, it was reported that a second round of auditions would be held in August, with actors being informed of the new round by Villeneuve and the producers.[30]

Release

[edit]

In September 2021, Barbara Broccoli stated that MGM intended to release future Bond films in movie theatres despite the then forthcoming acquisition of MGM by Amazon.[31] In August 2022, it was announced that the film would be distributed by Universal Pictures internationally despite MGM's shift to Warner Bros. Pictures.[32][33]

In March 2025, it was reported that Amazon was fast tracking production on the film with plans for a 2027 release date.[34] By June, however, it was reported that Amazon was now planning a 2028 release date due to the scale of the project.[25]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Agar, Chris (October 14, 2020). "Bond 26: 007 Producers Want To Bring Back No Time To Die Director". Screen Rant. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Ritman, Alex (September 27, 2021). "No New James Bond Casting Talk Until 2022, Says 007 Producer Barbara Broccoli". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  3. ^ "Sam Mendes rules out return as James Bond movie director". The Times of India. July 14, 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  4. ^ Svetkey, Benjamin (March 7, 2025). "License to Shill: Inside Amazon's 007 Takeover". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Bergeson, Samantha (March 7, 2025). "Jeff Bezos Wanted to Remove Barbara Broccoli After She Called Amazon Execs 'F**king Idiots' — Report". IndieWire. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  6. ^ Kroll, Justin (February 20, 2025). "James Bond Shocker! Amazon MGM Studios Takes Creative Control Of Spy Franchise As Producers Michael G. Wilson & Barbara Broccoli Step Back". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  7. ^ Vejvoda, Jim (October 22, 2025). "Amazon Paid Just $20 Million for the James Bond Franchise". IGN. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  8. ^ Kit, Borys (March 21, 2025). "License to Thrill: Amy Pascal, David Heyman in Talks to Oversee James Bond Franchise for Amazon MGM". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  9. ^ Galuppo, Mia (March 25, 2025). "Amy Pascal, David Heyman Close Deals to Produce Next James Bond Movie for Amazon MGM". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  10. ^ Ritman, Alex (March 25, 2025). "Amazon's James Bond Franchise Officially Sets Amy Pascal, David Heyman as Producers of New Film". Variety. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  11. ^ Grobar, Matt (June 25, 2025). "Denis Villeneuve Directing Next James Bond Film". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  12. ^ Kit, Borys; Galuppo, Mia (June 25, 2025). "Denis Villeneuve to Direct Next James Bond Film". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  13. ^ Douglas, Edward (September 28, 2015). "Interview: Sicario Director Denis Villeneuve Takes on Drug Cartels". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  14. ^ Hall, Jacob (July 26, 2017). "'Bond 25' Director Shortlist Includes Yann Demange, Denis Villenueve and David Mackenzie". /Film. Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  15. ^ Sharf, Zack (January 2, 2018). "Denis Villeneuve Would've Loved to Direct Bond 25, But Nothing Will Get in the Way of 'Dune'". IndieWire. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  16. ^ Whitney, E. Oliver (December 28, 2017). "Denis Villeneuve Explains the Four-Hour, Two-Part Release of 'Blade Runner 2049', Disappointing Box Office, and 'Bond 25'". ScreenCrush. Archived from the original on January 24, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  17. ^ "What I'm Hearing: Bond Directors, Blumhouse's Deal & Paramount's Trump Counter". Puck. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  18. ^ Kroll, Justin (July 31, 2025). "Next James Bond Pic At Amazon MGM Studios To Be Penned By Steven Knight". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  19. ^ Watson (May 18, 2016). "Daniel Craig 'rejects £68m Bond offer'". cambridgetimes.ca. Archived from the original on June 26, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  20. ^ Shoard, Catherine (October 10, 2016). "Daniel Craig hints at James Bond return: 'If I can keep getting a kick out of it, I will'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on February 9, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  21. ^ "Daniel Craig to return as James Bond". James Bond 007. August 16, 2017. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  22. ^ Sharf, Zack (December 7, 2021). "Bond Boss Wants Cary Fukunaga Back, Says Next 007 Is British Male of 'Any' Ethnicity or Race". IndieWire. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  23. ^ Ravindran, Manori (May 23, 2023). "Rebel Wilson on Auditioning for Bond Movie After Hosting BAFTAs and Why Artists 'Don't Get Any Upside' With Streaming Projects (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  24. ^ Langmann, Brady; Rosenburg, Josh (January 3, 2023). "Who Will Be the Next James Bond?". Esquire. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  25. ^ a b Siegel, Tatiana; Jackson, Angelique (June 27, 2025). "What's Next for Denis Villeneuve's Bond Movie? Amazon's Wishlist Includes Jacob Elordi, Tom Holland and Harris Dickinson". Variety. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  26. ^ Bamigboye, Baz (September 24, 2025). "Denis Villeneuve To Start Casting For An "Unknown" Brit Actor For 'Bond 26' When He Completes 'Dune: Part Three' — Breaking Baz". Deadline. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  27. ^ Vejvoda, Jim (May 14, 2026). "The Hunt for the Next 007 Is On: Game of Thrones Casting Legend Tasked With Finding a "Fresh Face" to Replace Daniel Craig in James Bond 26". IGN. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  28. ^ Farber, Alex (May 15, 2026). "Jacob Elordi and Callum Turner in sights for 'younger' James Bond". The Times. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  29. ^ Lan, Brent; Donnelly, Matt (May 16, 2026). "James Bond Search: 'Sunset Boulevard' Star Tom Francis Auditions to be Next 007 (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  30. ^ Kroll, Justin (June 24, 2026). "'James Bond' Search Heats Up As Producers Begin Tapping Talent To Test For Role Of 007; Next Round Of Auditions To Take Place In August – The Dish". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 24, 2026.
  31. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (September 25, 2021). "James Bond Producer Barbara Broccoli: "Amazon Have Told Us The Films Will Be Theatrical In The Future"". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  32. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 14, 2022). "Warner Bros Forms Multi-Year Pact to Distribute MGM Movies Overseas Beginning with 'Bones and All', 'Creed III'; How Bond Will be Handled". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  33. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (August 14, 2022). "Warner Bros. To Release MGM Movies Internationally, Except for 'Bond 26'". Variety. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  34. ^ Stolworthy, Jacob (March 21, 2025). "New James Bond film 'gets release date' after 'being fast-tracked' by Amazon". The Independent. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
[edit]
This page will be placed in the following categories if it is moved to the article namespace.
Categories:
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Draft:Bond_26&oldid=1363038511"