Agent double-0-nobody.<\/p>\n
\u201cBond 26\u201d director Denis Villeneuve is waiting until he finishes production on \u201cDune: Part Three\u201d to cast the next James Bond, and he is looking for a \u201cfresh face\u201d to take on the iconic 007 mantle, according to Deadline<\/a>.<\/p>\n The new Bond will be an \u201cunknown\u201d male British actor in his late 20s or early 30s, ruling out rumored front-runners<\/a> like Aaron-Taylor Johnson, 35, Henry Cavill, 42, and Idris Elba, 53, insiders told the outlet Wednesday.<\/p>\n Denis Villeneuve at the premiere of \u201cDune: Part Two\u201d in London in 2024. Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures<\/p>\n Villeneuve will direct the new James Bond film. Getty Images for BFI<\/p>\n However, that would exclude American actors<\/a> like Glen Powell and Austin Butler, as well as Australian actor Jacob Elordi.<\/p>\n \u201cWhoever it is has to look like he could kill you with his bare hands in a trice,\u201d a source told Deadline. \u201cFrom the moment you see him, that has to be readily apparent.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEvery name you\u2019ve heard of, and many you\u2019ve never heard of,\u201d another insider shared. \u201cWe\u2019ve been flooded. But understand that the casting process has not begun, and it won\u2019t until Denis finishes the\u00a0\u2018Dune\u2019\u00a0movie.\u201d<\/p>\n Aaron Taylor-Johnson was rumored to be up for the role of Bond. Getty Images<\/p>\n Henry Cavill was rumored to be up for the role of Bond. Getty Images<\/p>\n Idris Elba was rumored to be up for the role of Bond. Getty Images<\/p>\n As for the story, screenwriter\u00a0Steven Knight is reportedly returning to Bond\u2019s origins as a naval officer before his time at MI6 as Agent 007 for the 26th installment.<\/p>\n The search for the next Bond kicked off in 2021 when Daniel Craig, 57, hung up his tuxedo, Walther PPK pistol and license to kill and retired from the role following that year\u2019s \u201cNo Time to Die.\u201d<\/p>\n After\u00a0taking over creative control of the franchise<\/a> from producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson\u00a0in February, Amazon MGM Studios said\u00a0Villeneuve would helm<\/a>\u00a0the studio\u2019s first Bond flick.<\/p>\n Glen Powell, and other Americans, can sit this one out. Getty Images for Paramount Pictures<\/p>\n Austin Butler, and other Americans, can sit this one out. Best Image \/ BACKGRID<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he\u2019s sacred territory,\u201d Villeneuve, 57, said after being named director in June. \u201cI intend to honor the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honor,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Knight, 66, shared a similar sentiment during a chat with Variety last month.<\/p>\n Daniel Craig at the Venice Film Festival in 2024. WireImage<\/p>\n Craig as James Bond in 2012\u2019s \u201cSkyfall.\u201d \u00a9Columbia Pictures\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/p>\n Craig as James Bond in 2021\u2019s \u201cNo Time to Die.\u201d \u00a9MGM\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m hoping that being a Bond fan for so many years, that will sort of be imbued into me and I\u2019ll be able to produce something that\u2019s the same but different<\/a> and better and stronger and bolder,\u201d he told the outlet.<\/p>\n But some fans of the man who takes his martinis shaken, not stirred, are bound to be disappointed by the newest casting rumors, because the report appears to rule out other actors like Harris Dickinson, Reg\u00e9-Jean Page and Tom Holland.<\/p>\n Other A-listers, meanwhile, have already pulled themselves out of the running.<\/p>\n