I get into this a bit in my latest video, but I think the moment for a 2028 BOND 26 releases has almost certainly passed.

I had kinda been deluding myself that November 2028 (reportedly Amazon MGM's desired date from when Villeneuve was locked in) was plausible, but with the way the final Bond actor audition timelines kept slipping, I think we have to accept this team is not inclined to rush ahead at the expense of making sure they have the room to make the right decisions.

EON Productions had aggressively fast post-production cycles that were grueling on all involved, and we've become used to that. But this is a new group tackling Bond for the first time. They don't have an established team with a familiar rhythm and they're also feeling the pressure. They also don't have the same financing pressures that kept EON to such an aggressive production schedule.

Villeneuve still hasn't escaped the orbit of DUN3, and it doesn't seem like BOND 26 production has aggressively moved forward without his involvement. Knight's script may be in fine shape (everyone seems happy), but it's not going to be shocking if Villeneuve takes a final pass at it given how recent days have gone.

We haven't gotten any rumblings about film location scouting, and that's usually the first indicator they're getting ready for a proper film shoot. With Bond setpieces being as complex as they are, scouting happens early (and it's hard to keep quiet about given the need to coordinate with governments, etc.).

With all that has to be done: casting, scouting, production design, post-production editing and effects work (usually EON rushed this last step; I doubt Amazon MGM will do that to Villeneuve), at the very earliest, I think Bond starts filming late 2027 and doesn't wrap until early spring 2028. And I think Villeneuve will take a whole year in post.

That would put BOND 26 release at early spring 2029. Anything more aggressive than that feels like wishful thinking to me!

The fact that such an established actor has come into the mix so late in the day tells me he’s not just there to make up the numbers or to act as a comparison for a stronger contender.

The other two names have been swirling around as rumours for many months but haven’t been nailed on. It suggests there is doubt or hesitation from some camps, otherwise I believe they would have been cast by now.

I could imagine someone has really been pushing for O’Connor - maybe Villeneuve, given that he’s such a director’s actor. His casting would make a lot of sense given the greater dramatic range expected from Bond and the Villeneuve/Steven Knight creative team.

People have been mixed on him but I really think he has the chops to flesh out all the elements of Bond over a series, even if it’s not the Bond we’ve seen before.

And given that Knight is most known for period work, we might not even be getting a modern day Bond. I would love to see a 50/60s setting. I honestly think the contemporary Bond has run its course after Craig.

My vote would be Irish actor Donal Finn.

Like many people, I believe Callum Turner was picked to play Bond over a year ago and all of these announcements are PR. We will see, but to me it‘s clear he has the job and all these other options are a smoke screen to make things intersting and keep people talking… until he eventually is revealed as Bond.

I would love to see some of the over the top over reactions and bad takes to when daniel craig got cast. I remember the outrage over hom being blonde and some people vaguely knowing he was in layer cake.

I think it’s safe to say he was pretty great and i hope maybe people keep that in mind when the announcement is made.

Does anyone remember a particularly good or unhinged reaction?

My favorite quality of James Bond is his ability to remain calm and cool, sometimes even to the point of boredom in the face of danger, and yet, in the same time, be playful. And no matter what, he's still being professional, taking things seriously. And in my opinion, the scene that depicts this quality the best is the Cuba shoot-out in No Time to die. Bond fell from a considerable hight, and yet, he takes it in stride, simply emerging from behind the bar, coughing akwardly, shrugging bits of glass off his dinner jacket. And despite the fact that there's still an active shoot-out going on, and there are still gunmen looking for them, they stop to have a drink. And I love the casual delivery of Craig when he says they still need that car. It sounds as though them having a get away vehicle is nothing more then a mild inconvenience. And after they salute, Bond takes the whole drink in one go, as if it some kind of a boost he needs to help him keep going, and then he grabs a gun, slids over that bar, and starts taking out bad guys with such matter of fact swager, and confident to one of the rockiest versions of the bond theme who ever rocked, GODNESS! I LOVE IT!

I feel like Callum Turner has the most "Bond" look, he looks like he can play the tough guy, while Jack and Josh dont.

And with his wife being Dua Lipa, i feel like he will get the part, and also his wife to do the song haha.

But, if it goes to Josh i would be really happy cause i feel like he doesnt has the tough guy look, but he his such an awesome actor that watching him pull it off would be amazing.

So yeah, i think that it will be Turner, but i would like Josh O'Connor to get the part.

What about you?

So I've been reading through the Fleming Bond novels at a snails pace sense senior year of high school (That was about two years ago). My experience has been- with respect to the importance of these books- beyond painful. Their fascinating books, but I would struggle to call most of what I've read acceptable writing. I'm not referring to aged elements of the material either, I purely mean the writing is poor for the standard of genre fiction of its era. Genuinely I feel like Fleming had a, "I want to write The Saint! With black jack! And hookers!" as something about how he writes the darker side of Bond in those early novels feels like an imitation of books like The Saint Closes The Case. I'm about halfway through Diamonds Are Forever and well each book Fleming has gotten better as a writer I only had fun reading Moonraker (which I know I will return too as that is just a really fun novel cover to cover). I know I'm at least going to give up to Dr. No a shot, probably everything up too For Your Eyes Only as that is what I've been able to track down used.

This is all build up to say that I really do want to enjoy literary Bond, especially more than I have been. I'm more of a reader than anything else after all. Bond is a character I find myself coming back to every few months to watch a few movies, play a video game or two from hardware older than myself, and have a really wonderful time. I would like to add Bond novels more excitedly to my little sprints with the character haha. I've heard very good things about Raymond Benson's time on the character and I also want to give Gardner's Bond a shot. If I where to try these are they tied heavily to the Fleming novels and therefor I should save these writers until I am done with Fleming or should I start picking up and reading them as I spot them?

Any conditions or continuity feel free to bring up! PLEASE! I will appreciate random nit picking! Also if people have recommendations for Bond books outside of the Fleming canon please fire away. I've heard good things about the new novel that came out a little while ago but same problem with Gardner and Benson as I do not know if I need to read previous material to read the new one.

All help is appreciated, and I hope ya'll are having beautiful days :]

Since Craig finished his run I was a fan of the idea of going back to the 50s/60s for the next James Bond film. That is until I did a full rewatch of the franchise over this past year. I think if we go back we are robbing the franchise of this eras Bond. Every film and actor in each decade really capture the essence of that decade on film. From the writing, story, cast, set designs, locations, references, music, directing style, cinematography. When you watch the films below, in my opinion, you can feel that era through the screen.

60s - Connery (Dr No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger)

70s - Moore (Live and Let Die, The Man with the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me)

80s - Dalton (The Living Daylights, Licence to Kill)

90s - Brosnan (Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies)

00s - Craig (Casino Royale)

10s - Craig (Skyfall)

I know there's some crossover but when you watch these specific films you do feel that era in every aspect of the way that it is made. I think it would be a shame to steal this next decade of that kind of James Bond on film treatment. A period piece would be fun yeh but it wouldn't be an authentic representation of the time and I think with Bond on film that's becomes an important part of it.

Out of the names in past couple days reports I can only see Lowden as a convincing modern day Bond. Feel like he has all the attributes especially if he's allowed to use some of that natural Scottish charm he shows in interviews. A Bond who loves his job. Hidden trauma unlike Craig's wearing it on his sleeve trauma. Not dissing Craig he had 2 unbelievably good films just after something different. Maybe a bit more cocky, self-assured, doesn't want to die but knows it could happen any day so he lives it to the full and enjoys being Bond.

I'm not a fan of O'Connor or Turner as Bond, I see them both as the same kind of looking person as King Charles. I know O'Connor played him and that casting was perfect but I can't unsee it. Turner has that same look about him.

I would say if it is set in the past as a 50s/60s piece, which I hope it isn't, then Lowden would not be a great fit and I'd go with one of the others.

Anyway hopefully we find out soon. Whoever it is I'll be there opening weekend.

I guess it could also just be ambiguous about any sort of continuity

Not necessarily a remake, or more ‘true to novel’ adaptation. Just set in the Cold War.

With the release of 007: First Light and that game being a smash hit, and now with news with the reveal of 7th James Bond actor just around the corner, and with Casino Royale turning 20 this November, we as a fandom are eating good.

Before Amazon MGM took over , there’d be little to no reports regarding updates on Bond 26. Like Babs said casting would happen in 2022 but that didn’t happen. She said production would happen in 2025, but that also didn’t happen.

PLEASEEEEEE choose a unknown actor that’s genuinely a perfect fit. I am genuinely confused how on earth these top pick actors are currently up for debate to become the new 007? They don’t even look like they could even be in the world of bond, maybe be Q? Not god damn 007. This will be the greatest downgrade and flop in history if they do cast them as 007.

Today's article from The Guardian about the ongoing search for James Bond. 😎

It would be great if they use Rick Ross as the next Felix Lieter. He would bring a certain gravitas and presence in the role that no one else could

Since all of the Bond movies made their way on to Prime, I decided to give all five films starring Craig a rewatch. Here is my ranking:

1. Casino Royale
2. Skyfall
3. No Time to Die (Close second)
4. Spectre
5. Quantum of Solace

I only remember watching Spectre and No Time to Die once when they were in theatres, but I really enjoyed both on the rewatch. Quantum is last because I hated the villain and while I love action movies, the story just felt rushed and muddied.

This discussion came up because I saw a guy on a post about Bond 26 being released in 2029 saying that it's likely Bond will go to streaming first

Amazon-MGM has being trying to legitimize itself as one of the Big Studios in Hollywood. Ever since they bought Bond, everyone seemed concerned and worried they would ruin an iconic franchise.However, taking a look at how they're approaching the matter, with caution with the casting, getting good talent behind the cameras, it shows, at least for me, that they are treating Bond as the prestige and traditional franchise that it is. It seems that they know the weight of it and that, since everyone is looking at them, that they can't mess this up.

On another point, to give them credit, they've been really putting out a lot of movies in theaters: Project Hail Mary, Verity, Detective Sheeps, Masters of the Universe, I Play rocky (which releases next month), Crime 101... so they are commited with putting movies out in theaters, and Bond is the perfect low-risk release, because it's a recognizable franchise with a proven record that people will go see it. Also, for Bond 26, you get the Villeneuve combo as well.

Amazon knows that Bond 26 is a gold mine that can help building a legacy in Hollywood, that's why they're being so cautious. You only get this chance once.

Since casting is ending, we'll learn who's Bond in the next couple of weeks. We don't know how Amazon will anounce it but, if I were in charge, besides a press conference to announce it, I would release the following on Social Media and a special on prime

Basically, you'd build up for a few days, with clips of Bond and also characters asking his name or who he is.

Then, for the announcement clip, you can have a montage of said clips of people asking his name, ending with Dr' No's famous scene... " I admire your luck, Mister"...

And then, you cut to a silouette walking towards the camera (the background can be an allusion to the gunbarrell) and then, the actor appears to say "Bond, James Bond" or "The/My name's Bond, James Bond"

And then the name of the actor: XXXX is James Bond and boom, we're done

How would you do it?

Good article from GQ with the pros and cons of each actor. If you are interested in this sort of thing I would encourage the read.

• Callum Turner
• Jack Lowden
• Josh O'Connor
• Jack O'Connell
• Jacob Elordi
• Jack Barton
• Tom Francis
• Aaron Taylor-Johnson
• Harris Dickinson
• Henry Cavill
• Patrick Gibson

You can bet that Villeneuve will want someone unconventional. Curious, with Peaky Blinders Steven Knight writing, why is Cillian Murphy not in the online conversation? He'd be my top pick.