James Bond aka 007 is a British spy and has been reinvented on screen multiple times, with the last version being played by Daniel Craig. He set a gold standard for playing James Bond, even though Bond is too magnanimous for an actor. So becoming bigger than Bond’s character and charisma is often tough.
After Daniel Craig bid adieu to James Bond with No Time to Die fans have been speculating on who should take the baton next. The producers of the franchise kept the people guessing with some secret screenings and private meetings. Recently, more news came to light as Barbara Broccoli commented on the Next James Bond and the future of the franchise.
Barbara Broccoli shares disappointing news about 007 casting
According to James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli, casting has not yet started for the twenty-sixth installment of the venerable espionage series.
Fans continue to speculate about potential candidates for the legendary 007 agent role, but Broccoli acknowledged during a red carpet interview at the 2023 BAFTA Film Awards that it would be some time before the next James Bond is cast, “No, we haven’t even started casting yet,” she told LADbible.
In a recent interview, Broccoli said that the search for the next 007 will not start at Eon Productions until sometime in 2023. Broccoli also stated that she and her co-producer Michael G. Wilson are looking for “a thirty-something.” actor.
The criteria for being 30 years closes the door for Henry Cavill to be cast as the next James Bond. With almost all franchises closing its door on his face Bond was still something fans could bank on. But after Broccoli’s statements, it feels that James Bond too is out of limits for Cavill.
Reinventing James Bond for the new generation
James Bond was last performed by Daniel Craig, who played the role for 15 years. In his tenure, Craig first played the character in the critically-acclaimed 2006 film, Casino Royale, then returned for four more sequels — Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015), and No Time to Die (2021).
The five-film run of Craig was the first time Eon Studios “cracked Bond open emotionally,” allowing viewers to glimpse the persona’s innermost thoughts. The first James Bond death to appear on film occurred during Craig’s run as well, in No Time to Die.
Some fans might be unhappy to hear that Eon Productions hasn’t started casting the upcoming installment of the franchise, but Broccoli has stated that there are several internal talks that must first take place before they can even start to look at people for the part. Broccoli said in 2020 September,
“That’s why, when people go, ‘Oh, who are you going to get?’ it’s not just about casting an actor for a film. It’s about a reinvention, and ‘Where are we taking it? What do we want to do with the character?'”
She continued,
“And then, once we figure that out, who’s the right person for that particular reinvention? It’s an evolution. Bond is evolving just as men are evolving. I don’t know who’s evolving at a faster pace.”
The production house is taking its time with casting and planning the future of Bond. They even talked about how the idea of villains has evolved and they want to keep in line with these evolutions. Hopefully, fans will be treated with a poise, handsome, brand new, and relatable James Bond soon.
James Bond 26 release date has not been announced.
Source: LAD
