Next James Bond: Casting Rumors and Bond 26 Updates

Few movie characters spark as much speculation as James Bond, especially when the franchise is between leading men. With Daniel Craig’s final mission complete and Bond 26 officially in development, the hunt for the next 007 has become a guessing game fueled by betting odds, rumored shortlists, and official silence from EON Productions. Here’s what we actually know, and what remains unclear, about the future of the world’s most famous spy.

Official James Bond films: 25 ·
Actors in EON Productions films: 6 ·
Last film release: No Time to Die (2021) ·
Global box office (all films): Over $7 billion ·
Years since first film: 61 (Dr. No, 1962)

Six key facts define the current state of the James Bond franchise.

Who is the next James Bond?

The only honest answer is that no one knows — at least not publicly. Amazon MGM Studios confirmed in May 2025 that the search for the next James Bond was underway but would not comment on specific casting details during the process, according to Backstage, a trusted industry publication for casting news. That official silence has created a vacuum filled by trade reports, betting markets, and fan speculation.

Is Jack Lowden the new James Bond?

Jack Lowden has been among the names regularly appearing in betting odds. Gambling.com listed Lowden at 5.5 in its April 23, 2025 odds table, behind Theo James at 3.75 and Henry Cavill and Aaron Taylor-Johnson at 4.0, according to Gambling.com NZ, a specialist odds-tracking service. However, no credible reporting has confirmed that Lowden is in active negotiations.

Who will replace Daniel Craig as Bond?

Variety reported that casting director Nina Gold had been tapped to help find the next Bond, and that Amazon MGM was looking to cast a British actor under age 30 for Bond 26. Variety’s reported shortlist included Tom Holland, Jacob Elordi, and Harris Dickinson, according to IMDb News citing the original Variety piece. Meanwhile, the New York Post, citing Deadline-linked reporting, described the desired Bond as a fresh face — an unknown British male actor in his late 20s to early 30s. Those criteria would reportedly exclude widely discussed names such as Henry Cavill and Idris Elba, as noted by New York Post.

The implication: the betting market may be a poor proxy for actual casting decisions, since bookmakers adjust odds based on wagers, not insider knowledge.

Is Bond 26 confirmed?

Yes, but with important caveats. EON Productions has confirmed that Bond 26 is in development, according to multiple industry sources including Men’s Journal. No official release date has been announced. The script is reportedly being written, but no director is officially attached yet.

A complicating factor: Deadline-linked reporting, cited by New York Post, said Denis Villeneuve would not begin casting until after he completed Dune: Part Three. IMDb’s January 2026 coverage confirmed that casting was being kept under wraps until Villeneuve finished that project, with no official cast decision yet made, per IMDb News.

For fans expecting a quick follow-up to No Time to Die, the wait is likely to extend several more years. The pattern is clear: EON Productions values getting the casting right over hitting a release window.

Who are the seven James Bond actors?

The official EON Productions film series features six actors: Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig. The “seven” count often includes David Niven, who played Bond in the 1967 non-EON film Casino Royale. Barry Nelson also played the character in a 1954 television adaptation, though not in the EON series.

Which actors played James Bond in official films?

• Sean Connery — 6 official films (Dr. No through Diamonds Are Forever, plus the unofficial Never Say Never Again)
• George Lazenby — 1 official film (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, 1969)
• Roger Moore — 7 films (Live and Let Die through A View to a Kill, 1973–1985)
• Timothy Dalton — 2 films (The Living Daylights, Licence to Kill)
• Pierce Brosnan — 4 films (GoldenEye through Die Another Day)
• Daniel Craig — 5 films (Casino Royale through No Time to Die)

Each actor brought a distinct style and era to the role, from Connery’s cold charm to Moore’s raised-eyebrow humor, Dalton’s severity, Brosnan’s gadget-driven suaveness, and Craig’s gritty vulnerability.

The trade-off: each new Bond represents a wholesale tonal reset for the franchise, meaning whoever replaces Craig will shape the next decade of films.

Who is the least popular James Bond?

Fan polls and rankings consistently place George Lazenby as the least popular Bond, largely because he appeared in only one film and left the role quickly. Timothy Dalton also receives mixed reviews, though his two films have gained appreciation over time as darker, more Fleming-faithful entries.

How are James Bond actors ranked by fans?

Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan tend to rank in the middle tier, benefiting from longer tenures and box office success. Sean Connery and Daniel Craig are frequently at the top of fan rankings — Connery for establishing the archetype, and Craig for modernizing it with emotional depth and physical realism.

Popularity varies significantly by criteria. By box office, Craig’s Skyfall ($1.1 billion globally) is the clear winner. By critical reception, Connery and Craig share the highest averages on Rotten Tomatoes. By cultural impact, Moore’s era defined Bond as a global pop phenomenon. Lazenby’s single film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, has a dedicated cult following but ranks lowest in nearly every aggregate poll.

The pattern is instructive: shorter tenures correlate with lower popularity, though the direction of causality is debatable.

What are all James Bond movies in order?

There are 25 official James Bond films produced by EON Productions. The chronological order by release date:

1. Dr. No (1962) — Sean Connery
2. From Russia with Love (1963)
3. Goldfinger (1964)
4. Thunderball (1965)
5. You Only Live Twice (1967)
6. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) — George Lazenby
7. Diamonds Are Forever (1971) — Sean Connery
8. Live and Let Die (1973) — Roger Moore
9. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
10. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
11. Moonraker (1979)
12. For Your Eyes Only (1981)
13. Octopussy (1983)
14. A View to a Kill (1985)
15. The Living Daylights (1987) — Timothy Dalton
16. Licence to Kill (1989)
17. GoldenEye (1995) — Pierce Brosnan
18. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
19. The World Is Not Enough (1999)
20. Die Another Day (2002)
21. Casino Royale (2006) — Daniel Craig
22. Quantum of Solace (2008)
23. Skyfall (2012)
24. Spectre (2015)
25. No Time to Die (2021)

Two non-EON films also exist: Casino Royale (1967, starring David Niven) and Never Say Never Again (1983, starring Sean Connery), but they are not part of the official canon.

What is the first James Bond movie?

The first official James Bond film is Dr. No, released in 1962. Directed by Terence Young and starring Sean Connery, it introduced the world to 007 on the big screen and set the template for the franchise: exotic locations, a cold opening, and the now-iconic gun barrel sequence.

How many James Bond movies are there?

There are 25 official James Bond films produced by EON Productions, with Bond 26 currently in development. Including the two unofficial films, the total number of theatrical James Bond films is 27.

The next film, Bond 26, will be the 26th official EON Production — if it follows the established numbering pattern.

James Bond timeline: from Dr. No to Bond 26

This timeline illustrates the long intervals between Bond actors, suggesting the next film will not arrive soon.

What we know and what we don’t

Confirmed facts

• Daniel Craig will not return as James Bond (Backstage).
• Bond 26 is officially in development, confirmed by EON Productions and Amazon MGM (Men’s Journal).
• There are 25 official EON Productions Bond films, starting with Dr. No (1962).
• Casting director Nina Gold has reportedly been hired to help find the next Bond (IGN).

What remains unclear

• Who will play the next James Bond — no official announcement has been made.
• The release date for Bond 26 — no date has been set.
• Who will direct Bond 26 — no director is officially attached.
• Whether betting odds favorites (Theo James, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack Lowden) represent actual contenders or market noise.

The confirmed facts are sparse, but the list of unknowns is longer — underscoring the early stage of the search.

Quotes from the people in charge

“We are not going to rush it. We want to get it right.”

— Barbara Broccoli, producer, as told to

Additional sources

roolipedia.fi