Next James Bond actor announcement gets major update from key producer for new film
Fans have been given the first official update on the new James Bond casting.
MGM
- Molly Moss
Published: Tuesday, 4 August 2026 at 11:54 am
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James Bond producer Amy Pascal has predicted that the new 007 casting will be announced by the end of 2026.
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Speculation about who could be the next James Bond has been rife since since Daniel Craig made his final appearance as the iconic spy in 2021's No Time to Die, and it was only intensified when longtime producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli stepped back from the series early last year and handed creative control to Amazon MGM Studios.
Speaking to Deadline in a new interview, new producer Amy Pascal provided fans with the first official update on the new James Bond casting timeline.
"I would say the end of the year is a good bet," she said.
Pascal also said the creative team has been "methodical" in trying to find someone "really different" from previous Bond star Craig.
She explained: "We are being really, really methodical. Having worked with Barbara Broccoli at the studio, I mean, Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow. And it's got to be something really different that is stirring and exciting and different."
Dune and Blade Runner: 2049 director Denis Villeneuve will helm the new Bond movie. Theo Wargo/Getty Images
It was previously confirmed that Denis Villeneuve, who has the release of Dune: Part Three to look forward to at the end of 2026, will be directing the movie, while Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight will pen the script.
During a recent appearance on BBC Radio 4 Today, Knight said of the movie: "I can't really talk about what I'm doing with Bond but I'm enjoying every single second of it. It's fantastic. I'm loving it."
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Amazon MGM Studios announced in June that the casting process had officially begun.
They said in a statement: "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."
Of the several rumours as to who could play the next version of 007, Callum Turner has emerged as the favourite, with the Masters of the Air star soon appearing in the rom-com flick One Night Only.
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Authors
Molly MossTrends Writer
Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.
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