Various outlets in recent months have breathlessly been teasing the likes of Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack O’Connell, and Lucien Laviscount have all emerged as ‘serious contenders’ if not frontrunners to be the next James Bond, taking over the mantle of 007 from Daniel Craig.
Many of these reports, often originating in the British tabloids, have teased ‘successful meetings’ with the producers and gone so far as to suggest potential screen tests have happened whilst stunt teams are already at work prepping for the film.
Barbara Broccoli, the long-time producer of the franchise, has poured cold water on all the speculation this week. In a new interview with LADbible from the red carpet of the BAFTAs, Broccoli offered an update regarding the casting process for the next film.
It turns out the new film isn’t anywhere near along in development as has been speculated. Broccoli says that whilst she’s aware of all the speculation, she confirms that “we haven’t even started casting yet…there isn’t even a script.”
This fits in with her previous statements made last Summer, those suggesting the earliest a new Bond film could go into production would be mid-2024 at the very earliest, with a more likely scenario being a shoot in 2025.
As the new Bond is set to be something of a reboot of the franchise that aims to offer a different take again on the character – the production team has to decide what direction they want to take with 007 first before getting around to casting.
All that has been confirmed thus far is that they’re looking at actors in their early thirties now for the role, as whoever takes it is expected to inhabit the part for at least a decade.
