James Bond Casting Is Accelerating as Director Denis Villeneuve Says He's 'Pushing the Gas'
(Illustration: USA Current Affaires)
The search for the next James Bond is speeding up — and the director in charge of finding him says he is stepping on the gas.
Denis Villeneuve, who will direct Bond 26, gave a fresh update on the casting process in an interview with GQ, published on November 12.
Asked whether the next 007 had already been cast, Villeneuve replied: "It's… in the process, in the process. We're pushing the gas."
The interviewer then tried a playful test — blink once for Robert Pattinson, twice for Callum Turner. Villeneuve covered his eyes with a smile and said: "That's tough not to blink."
Five Actors Have Screen-Tested
Deadline reported on November 6 that five actors have taken part in recent screen tests: Robert Pattinson, Nicholas Hoult, Jack Lowden, Josh O'Connor and Callum Turner.
But neither Amazon MGM nor the filmmakers have confirmed a final shortlist, and the studio has declined to comment on specifics. No actor has been cast yet — despite separate reports suggesting different actors may already have landed the role.
Villeneuve has previously spoken positively about the selection process. At the 2026 LACMA Art+Film Gala, he told Variety he was having a "great time" screening actors for the role, and jokingly pretended to reveal the next Bond's identity before stopping himself.
The five reported contenders could hardly be more different. Pattinson, who played Batman in The Batman, recently worked with Villeneuve on Dune: Part Three. Hoult, who stars in the upcoming How to Rob a Bank, has been building a reputation as one of Hollywood's most versatile leading men. Lowden, O'Connor and Turner are all acclaimed British actors with strong screen credentials — and Turner has already earned a public endorsement from George Clooney, who directed him in The Boys in the Boat and has said he hopes Turner gets the job.
Villeneuve is juggling the Bond search with a major release of his own: Dune: Part Three reaches theaters on December 18, meaning the director is overseeing one of the year's biggest films while also making one of Hollywood's most scrutinized casting decisions.
A Decision Could Come Soon
Reports suggest a decision could come by the end of November, possibly before the US Thanksgiving holiday on November 26 — though that remains an expectation, not a confirmed announcement date.
Bond 26 will be the 26th film in the long-running spy franchise and the first since Daniel Craig's final outing in No Time to Die (2021). Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is writing the screenplay, while Amy Pascal and David Heyman are producing the project for Amazon MGM Studios.
The film is targeting a 2028 release, with filming expected to begin in 2027 — though no official title, cast or release date has been announced yet.
Bond 26 will also be the first film made since Amazon MGM took creative control of the franchise from the Broccoli family, who had steered the series for decades. Producers Pascal and Heyman made finding a director and a screenplay their first priorities before turning to the casting search — which is why the choice of leading man has taken so long, and why it matters so much.
Whoever lands the role will inherit one of cinema's most recognizable characters, previously played by Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and Craig. The casting call has become one of Hollywood's most closely watched decisions, with every hint from Villeneuve fueling a new round of speculation.
Hollywood is full of big comebacks this month — Johnny Depp is also mounting a major return with his new film "Ebenezer", as we reported earlier.
Also trending today: Khloé Kardashian calls Lamar Odom "dead to me" in a new Netflix documentary. Who do you think should be the next Bond? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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