It’s been more than six years since Daniel Craig put the tux in the closet. Six years. That’s longer than the wait time between any other two Bond actors in the franchise’s history.
And we still don’t even know who the next James Bond is.
Honestly? It’s getting ridiculous. But here’s what is actually unfolding and why 2026 might finally give us an answer.
When Will the Next James Bond Be Announced
The short answer? Probably mid-2026. Maybe later. Nobody’s saying for certain.
Denis Villeneuve was announced as the next James Bond director in June 2025. Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is writing the script. David Heyman and Amy Pascal are also there. But the actor? That’s still up in the air.
Here’s the thing. Villeneuve is currently completing Dune: Part Three, the filming of which concludes in late 2026. Once that is done, he will begin his casting process in earnest. So in reality, this is going to be an announcement between summer and autumn 2026.
William Hill bookmakers reckon there’s a 92% chance (1/12 odds) the next James Bond gets confirmed this year. That’s about as close to certain as betting odds get.
Production is tentatively slated to begin in 2027, and the next James Bond film is scheduled to be released in theatres in 2028. That’ll have been seven years since No Time to Die. Longest gap in franchise history.
What They’re Actually Looking For
Amazon MGM Studios purchased the Bond rights for about £770 million ($1 billion) in February 2025. Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, who had overseen the franchise since the 90s, handed over full creative control.
That changed everything.
According to Deadline’s sources, they’re after a “fresh face.” An unknown. Younger bloke, late 20s or early 30s maybe. Has to be British. Has to look like he could kill you with his bare hands.
They want the Bond from Ian Fleming’s novels. The “blunt instrument.” Dark, dangerous, physical. More Casino Royale than Moonraker.
This rules out loads of the names people keep mentioning. Tom Holland, Timothée Chalamet, and Glen Powell? All too famous or not British. Henry Cavill? Too well-known now. Same with Idris Elba.
They want someone nobody’s heard of yet. Which makes all this betting odds stuff properly pointless, but we’ll get to that.
Callum Turner: The Current Favourite
Right, so next James Bond odds change every week. But as of early January 2026, Callum Turner is leading the pack.
He’s 35. British. Done Fantastic Beasts, Masters of the Air, and The Boys in the Boat. Not exactly a household name, but not unknown either. His odds sit around 5/6 to 2/1 depending on which bookmaker you ask.
The Mail on Sunday reported on 3 January that Turner’s been “telling friends the role is his.” One source said, “He’s been blabbing all over town. Callum is the new Bond; it’s been confirmed.”
Could be true. Could be rubbish. Actors lie. Sources lie. Bookies get it wrong constantly.
Plus, there’s a fun twist. Turner got engaged to Dua Lipa last summer. If he does get Bond, rumour is she’ll write the theme song. Would be quite the power couple moment, that.
They even went on holiday to Goldeneye in Jamaica, Ian Fleming’s old estate. Bit on the nose, innit?
But here’s the problem. Turner doesn’t fit the “unknown” criteria Amazon is after. He’s worked on major franchises. He’s recognisable. So either the “fresh face” thing was nonsense, or Turner’s a red herring.
I’m leaning towards a red herring.
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Aaron Taylor-Johnson: The Nearly Man
Aaron Taylor-Johnson was a dead cert favourite for about two years. Some papers went so far as to report that he’d already accepted the role in 2024.
His next James Bond odds took a slight step back, though, as of January 2026, he’s already back to between 2/1 and 4/1. Still very much in contention.
He’s 35, very British, and has done Kick-Ass, Bullet Train and Kraven the Hunter. Was named a brand ambassador for Omega watches, which Bond wears in the films. That was a huge hint. But the same problem as Turner. He’s too well-known now. Not a fresh face. Amazon wants someone audiences haven’t seen much.
Unless “fresh face” just means fresh to the Bond franchise, not fresh to acting. Then Taylor-Johnson fits.
I saw him in Nocturnal Animals back in 2016. The bloke can act. Proper intense. But is he Bond? Not sure.
Anthony Boyle: The Wild Card
Here’s someone most people haven’t heard of. Anthony Boyle. Northern Irish actor, 31 years old. Won an Olivier Award playing Scorpius Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on the West End.
Recently starred in The House of Guinness on Netflix. Written by Steven Knight. Who’s writing the Bond 26 script? See the connection?
His odds were 4/1 a few weeks back; now they’ve drifted to around 10/1. But that Knight connection’s interesting. Directors and writers often push for actors they’ve worked with before.
If Amazon genuinely wants an unknown, Boyle fits better than Turner or Taylor-Johnson. But he’d be the first Irish Bond, which might ruffle some purist feathers.
Theo James: The Dark Horse
At the beginning of 2025, Theo James was the favourite to land the prestigious role. His odds then drifted out to 12/1. Now they’re back down to 6/1.
He’s 40 and has acted in Divergent, The White Lotus, and Gentlemen. Proper suave, looks the part. But again, not unknown.
White Lotus gave him huge visibility. Tons of people recognise his face now. So he seems unlikely, unless Amazon is totally scrapping the whole “fresh face” notion. Then again, 6/1 odds imply bookies see a possibility. Well, there may be something we don’t know.
The James Bond Actors Nobody’s Talking About
Richard Madden keeps getting mentioned. Scottish, 40 years old, did Game of Thrones and The Bodyguard. He’s got a new Netflix thriller called Trinity coming in 2026 that’ll basically be his Bond audition.
Jack Lowden, Harris Dickinson, and Jonathan Bailey. All British, all talented, all relatively unknown outside the UK. They fit the criteria better than the favourites.
Tom Hardy’s name still floats around occasionally. He’s 48. Too old. Bond’s getting rebooted younger.
James Norton. Jacob Elordi. John O’Connor. The list goes on and on.
Why This Is Taking So Long
Look, Daniel Craig did five Bond films over 15 years. His last one, No Time to Die, killed off the character. First time that’s ever happened.
So they’re starting fresh. New timeline. New Bond. Probably younger, earlier in his career. Maybe even showing his Royal Navy days and how he became a 00 agent.
That’s a massive decision. Get it wrong, and you’ve killed the franchise’s golden goose. Amazon paid a billion quid for this. They’re not rushing it.
Plus, Villeneuve’s busy with Dune. The script needs finalising. Casting takes time. These things move slowly in Hollywood, especially when this much money’s involved.
The next James Bond movie will probably make over £500 million worldwide. Maybe closer to £800 million. That’s a lot riding on one casting choice.
What Actually Happens Next
CES happened earlier this month. No Bond announcement. James Bond Day in October? Maybe. Comic-Con in July? Possibly.
My guess? They announced mid-2026, once Villeneuve is free. Production starts early 2027. The film comes out in spring 2028.
A seven-year wait from Craig’s last film. Feels like forever, but it’s only a year longer than the gap between Licence to Kill and GoldenEye.
The next James Bond odds will keep changing every week. Bookies will keep taking bets. Papers will keep running “exclusive” stories about who’s got the part. Most of it’ll be rubbish.
Eventually, Amazon will hold a press conference. They’ll trot out some bloke you’ve probably never heard of. He’ll look nervous. They’ll play the Bond theme. Social media will explode with opinions.
Half the internet will say he’s perfect. The other half will say he’s all wrong. Then, five years later, after his first film is out, everyone will have forgotten they were angry.
That’s how it always goes.
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Why I Reckon It’s None of Them
Here’s my honest take. I don’t think it’s Turner, Taylor-Johnson, Boyle, James, or any of the names bookies are pushing. I think Amazon’s serious about the “unknown” thing. They want someone genuinely fresh. Someone who won’t overshadow the character with their previous roles.
Craig was in Layer Cake and Munich, but he wasn’t a massive star. Brosnan had done Remington Steele but wasn’t exactly A-list. Connery was basically nobody before Dr No.
The best Bonds have always been relative unknowns who grew into the role. Not established stars trying to add Bond to their CV.
So, my money? If I were betting (and I’m not because this whole thing’s a circus), I’d put it on someone we’ve barely heard of. Some British actor in his early 30s who’s done theatre and maybe a BBC drama nobody watched.
That’s who’ll get it. Not the betting favourites. Not the tabloid picks. Someone at Amazon keeps it under wraps till the announcement.
Could be wrong. Might be Turner. Might be Taylor-Johnson. Might be someone else entirely.
But after six years of waiting, I’m tired of the speculation. Just announce someone already so we can all move on with our lives.
Bond will return. Eventually. Probably in 2028. With an actor, we’ll all have opinions about whether we’ve heard of him or not. That’s the only thing I’m certain of.
One response to “The Next James Bond Mess: Why We’re Still Waiting and Who’s Actually in the Running”
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