James Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have said they are looking for a new 007 actor to take on the role of the legendary secret agent for at least a decade.
Following Daniel Craig bowing out as Bond in last year’s No Time To Die, MGM is now looking for a new leading man to take on the spy franchise. It’s obviously a role that comes with a weighty cinematic history and the studio is apparently not interested in a one-off Bond.
The 007 producers recently spoke about the commitment their new lead actor will be expected to make and how far away they are from settling on a new James Bond.
‘We’ve Been Expecting You, Mr. Bond’
Talking to Variety, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson shared an update on their seach for a new 007 and their vision for the future of James Bond.
The Bond producers revealed it’s still “early days” in their search for Daniel Craig’s successor. “The thing is, it’s going to be a couple of years off,” said Broccoli of the timeline for finding the new Bond, adding “when we cast Bond, it’s a 10-, 12-year commitment.”
Barbara Broccoli went on to explain how finding a new Bond means finding someone who can lead not just a film but a total reinvention of the franchise:
“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?’ And then, once we figure that out, who’s the right person for that particular reinvention? … But it’s a big commitment. It’s not just showing up for a couple of months of filming.”
Daniel Craig wowed Bond fans with his more grounded take on 007 over his 15-year tenure in the role. Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson certainly have their work cut out for them in their search for Craig’s replacement and it sounds like the franchise’s new star will have to be in it for the long haul.
Here is the synopsis for Daniel Craig’s final outing as James Bond, No Time to Die:
Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, No Time to Die stars Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, Lea Seydoux, Rory Kinnear, Jeffrey Wright, Rami Malek, Ana de Armas, Lashana Lynch, Billy Magnussen, David Dencik, and Dali Benssalah.
No Time to Die is now available on home media formats. Stay tuned for all the latest news on the future of the James Bond franchise beyond Daniel Craig, and be sure to subscribe to Heroic Hollywood’s YouTube channel for more original video content!
Source: Variety
