Who will be the new James Bond?

After almost twenty years, a new James Bond will arrive, or rather: a new leading actor who will portray the secret agent with a "license to kill" in future films. Daniel Craig, indeed, concluded his journey with No Time To Die, released in 2021, after 5 successful films. Since then, specialized magazines and industry insiders have proposed various hypotheses about who the new actor will be – yes, because it will once again be a male (even though initially it was thought, and somewhat hoped, otherwise). The choice of the person who will play 007 always generates great interest among enthusiasts. The company that controls the rights to the James Bond character also requires that the selected actor be British (although potentially belonging to any ethnicity), so as to be as faithful as possible to the character created by the British writer Ian Fleming. In recent months, several names had emerged, including lately those of Lucien Laviscount and Taylor-Johnson. However, they have all been denied for the moment, and it seems that the casting process hasn't even begun yet. There is usually a lot of secrecy surrounding the selection process. It is very likely that the new Bond will continue to embody the stereotype of the character we are accustomed to – among other things, driving Aston Martin and drinking Vodka Martinis. However, the less iconic facets of the character could potentially change and expand. The new Bond, in fact, will still have to try to differentiate himself from the six who preceded him. For the film series, this is an opportunity to realign with its target audience. While remaining generally similar to each other, James Bond films tend – from time to time – to introduce some novel elements; and this occurs precisely through the specificities of the individual actors who play the role.

What it Means to Be James Bond in the Twenty-First Century

Sean Connery in 007 - Licenza-di-uccidere

Sean Connery in 007 - Mission Goldfinger

Roger Moore in 007 - Vivi e lascia vivere

Christopher Walker in 007 - Bersaglio mobile

Most likely, the new James Bond film will confront contemporary hot topics, especially those that were not represented in cinema until recently. Among these could be artificial intelligence, propaganda campaigns, or the climate crisis, among other things. The actor chosen to portray the secret agent also doesn't necessarily have to be young – in this case, the trend is to favor senior profiles with experience. And then, who will be Bond's enemy? Here too, the type of organization that 007 will have to fight against will almost certainly have some reference to the present. There is no definite news, but specialized magazines argue that the antagonist of the next film will not be characterized, as in the past, by some physical deformity. Such a choice is now considered unoriginal and out of touch with current sensibilities, as it tends to associate an aesthetic problem with a "bad" nature. The goal, in short, is once again to modernize the saga.

The James Bond That Daniel Craig Was

Daniel Creig in 007 Casino Royale

Daniel Creig in 007 Spectre