Which actor will play the next 007? Here’s a new James Bond 26 rumor!

Who will be the new James Bond? It’s a topic that regularly enlivens the Anglo-Saxon press. Everyone has their own prediction. Since we know Daniel Craig is not coming back, all avenues are being considered.

Last spring, there were persistent rumors about Aaron Taylor Johnson (Kick-Ass, Bullet Train…). The actor, who currently stars in Kraven The Hunter, has been on Daniel Craig’s list of successors for several years and is one of the favorites. totalizers English. Tabloid The Sun was very positive, but was quick to say that nothing was official.

In December 2022, The Sun already reported that Aaron Taylor-Johnson had passed a secret audition to be Her Majesty’s new favorite spy.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson said being considered for the role was a “huge compliment”. In 2024, the British comedian starred in David Leitch’s action film The Fall Guy alongside Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, currently in a new Sony/Marvel film. Raven hunterAnd tomorrow, in the remake of Robert Eggers’ vampire film Nosferatu.

A few months after the Aaron Taylor Johnson rumors, The Hollywood Reporter Bet on Josh O’Connor (see our interview above). A 34-year-old British actress born in southern England who “represents another masculinity in cinema“, is a favorite of the American media, which readily admits that this is mere speculation.

For The Hollywood Reporter, this choice makes sense because Josh O’Connor is somewhat familiar to the public (he played Prince Charles in The Crown, or more recently as one of the tennis players in Challengers). Not very identified yet.

A saga to be reinvented?

Apart from an actor to play the hero, the producers want to completely reinvent the saga. Historical producer Barbara Broccoli said discussions were ongoing on the subject.

“We’re figuring out where to go with 007, we’re discussing it. There’s no script and we can’t come up with it until we decide how to approach the next film, because “it’s really about reinventing Bond. We’re reinventing who he is, and that takes time.

The first film adaptation of Ian Fleming’s work dates back to 1962. It was Sean Connery, then virtually unknown to the general public, playing a spy in James Bond’s 007 opposite Terence Young’s Dr. No.

After 60 years, six actors have replaced each other in the role of 007: Scotsman Sean Connery, Australian George Lazenby, Englishman Roger Moore, Welshman Timothy Dalton, Irishman Pierce Brosnan and Englishman. Daniel Craig.

Applicants for 007 position

After 25 feature films directed by a white male, the producers seem ready to reinvent the franchise. If Idris Elba does not play James Bond, despite the constant rumors and the future agent is not yet known, the rumors will not stop.

So besides that Aaron Taylor JohnsonNames of Taron Egerton, Tom Hardy, Reg-Jean Page (The Bridgerton Chronicles), James Norton (Dr. Marty’s Daughters), Mahershala Ali (Green Book), Henry Cavill (who could play an agent in this place). Daniel Craig) and Lucien Lavisconte (Emile in Paris).

After the release of No Time to Die, the name of Lashana Lynch – who plays Agent 007 at the beginning of the film – has been bandied about. But the producers quickly denied the information and clarified that James Bond will remain the man.

The statement was confirmed by Ana de Armas, who plays Paloma, 007’s CIA ally in No Time to Die.

The latter is thus indicated on the microphone the sun:”No need for a female James Bond. It shouldn’t be necessary to steal someone else’s character to feminize it.

There are novels that take us into a whole world of fantasy that James Bond is drawn to. That’s why I want female roles to be presented differently in 007 movies.

We need to give them more substance and real recognition. That’s what I find more interesting than changing things“.

A thirty-year-old actress

Producer Michael Wilson specified on the site in October 2022 term that an actor in his thirties needed the role of James Bond.

“Remember, Bond is a veteran. He’s experienced. He’s a man who’s been through the wars, so to speak. He’s probably been in the SAS. or something similar.

He’s not just some kid out of high school who can throw himself into the deep end like that. That’s why he works with thirty-year-olds.”

The director of James Bond 26?

In terms of staging, debate is also appropriate. Sam Mendes, director of Skyfall and Spectre, believes that as a character must evolve, so does the technical team and especially the director’s position.

The 25 previous opus have all been directed by men, and for Mendes, it’s time for a female director to make a James Bond film. he told the site term In September 2022: “I think if the actor playing Bond has to evolve, the director has to evolve as well. It would be great to see a female Bond lead.“

And Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s name has been floated to write and direct James Bond 26. That’s why the actor and creator of Fleabag could be tasked with setting the stage for a brand new adventure for the British secret agent.

However, several directors have already expressed their desire to direct James Bond. This is especially true of Denis Villeneuve, director of Dune 1 and 2, as he admitted in November 2021: “It’s a character I’ve lived with since I was a kid. I have a huge love for Bond. It’s going to be a big challenge to try to reset him after what Daniel has done.”

A desire shared by Korean director Park Chan-wook (The Old Boy), who revealed to Deadline in October 2022: “It would be fun to do James Bond. However, I’m not sure fans will enjoy the film as much as I enjoyed making it.”

FYI, the latest James Bond installment hits theaters on October 6, 2021: The dying can wait Carrie by Joji Fukunaga, the final film in the saga Daniel Craig. We’ll have to wait a little longer to find out more about James Bond 26.