When a bartender asked James Bond in 2006's Casino Royale whether he'd like his vodka martini shaken or stirred, the irritated spy replied: "Do I look like I give a damn?" That throwaway line signaled a new era for 007, with Daniel Craig overhauling the series launched in 1962. Over the next few films, producers balanced nods to the past with moves away from cheesier elements, no longer sticking rigidly to tradition. As Ben Whishaw's Q later asked in Skyfall: "Were you expecting an exploding pen? We don't really go in for that anymore."

A New Era Begins

Two decades after Craig's debut, the series is rebooting again with a new actor and creative team. After years of speculation, the wheels are in motion, and we expect to hear who the new James Bond actor is in November or December. Producer Amy Pascal told Deadline in August: "I would say the end of the year is a good bet. We are being really, really methodical." Final screen tests reportedly took place in late October, so unless something unexpected happens, producers should soon make their decision and the actor sign the contract.

After that, it's just a matter of how the announcement will be made. In an earlier era, Bond actors were revealed with a traditional photo call or press conference. But now that the franchise is owned by Amazon MGM, some expect the company to make the announcement via its Prime Video streaming service.

The Contenders

A handful of actors are thought to have made it to the final screen tests for Britain's biggest film role. The three frontrunners are thought to be:

Other actors reportedly in the mix include Jack Barton, 31 (Heartstopper, SAS: Rogue Heroes), Nicholas Hoult, 36 (About A Boy, Superman), Robert Pattinson, 40 (Twilight, The Batman), and Paul Mescal, 30 (Normal People, Gladiator II). But remember, Craig was a surprise choice in 2005, so don't bet against a wildcard candidate whose name has not yet been widely reported.

Production Timeline

The film is expected to go into production in 2027, before its release in 2028. No exact dates have been announced. Film schedules can be notoriously fluid, but it's clear that development is well under way, with the director and writer already in place. It will be the 26th film in the official series, but the title has not yet been confirmed.

The movie will be directed by Denis Villeneuve, known for Prisoners, Sicario, Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, and the recent Dune trilogy. "Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007," the French-Canadian director said last year. "I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since Dr. No with Sean Connery. I'm a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he's sacred territory." He added: "I intend to honour the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come. This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honour."

Bond 26 will be written by Steven Knight, known for TV series such as Peaky Blinders and House of Guinness, and films including Burnt, Spencer, Locke, and The Girl in the Spider's Web. Knight has said it had always been on his "bucket list" to write a Bond film, adding that he felt he was "doing my duty for King and country" by joining the franchise. He told the BBC he planned to "write the character, not the actor," adding: "The thing with Bond is it's its own universe and franchise. So there are certain rules. Obviously you have to move it along, but I love where it sits. I love that it's British. I love that it's not DC or Marvel... So I feel a responsibility to the text."

A Legacy of Bonds

Only six actors have played James Bond in the official series: Sean Connery (six films, 1962-1971), George Lazenby (one film, 1969), Roger Moore (seven films, 1973-1985), Timothy Dalton (two films, 1987 and 1989), Pierce Brosnan (four films, 1995-2002), and Daniel Craig (five films, 2006-2021). Connery returned for 1971's Diamonds Are Forever after Lazenby's sole outing, and also appeared in 1983's Never Say Never Again, which was not part of the official series.

With the change in ownership and a new creative team, the new Bond film is likely to make a fresh start. It would be difficult to continue the story chronologically given the ending of 2021's No Time To Die, but that still leaves producers with plenty of options. A different version of James Bond, who exists in a different universe, would be easily pulled off in an era where audiences are used to major film franchises restarting in a different world or timeline.

Bond 26 could even be set in a significantly earlier era - an idea that gained popularity after Tony Gilroy revealed he and Steven Soderbergh previously pitched a 1960s version. Separately, actor Ralph Fiennes recently said he had once been in talks to play Bond and had suggested producers make a "black and white and very sort of film noir-y" version set in the 1950s. Neither idea materialised, but the suggestion went down well with some fans who noted a period piece would help make the film truer to Fleming's original character and books.

Exactly what shape the next film takes will become clear at a later stage. For now, fans are hoping that Christmas could be about to come early this year, as the world awaits the imminent announcement of the next actor to play 007.