Auditions Have Started for the Next James Bond

After a long wait, fans of the legendaryJames Bond film series finally have a fresh update on the search for Daniel Craig's successor.

Craig stepped down from the role as 007 after No Time to Die, which hit theaters in Sept. 2021. Last year, Amazon MGM Studios purchased creative control of the James Bond movie franchise from producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson for $20 million.

Now, Amazon MGM Studios has begun the process of finding the next 007.

According to Brett Lang of Variety, Amazon MGM Studios began "auditioning actors for the part of 007 in the past few weeks."

Prominent casting director Nina Gold, who worked on hit shows like Game of Thrones and The Crown, is helping MGM Studios in the casting process. Variety received the following statement from MGM Studios:

"The search for the next James Bond is underway. While we don't plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we're excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right."

Last June, the studio announced that Denis Villeneuve would direct the next James Bond film. Steven Wright, who worked on hit films Closed Circuit and Eastern Promises, will write the upcoming 007 project.

A long range of actors have been floated as possible candidates to succeed Craig, including Callum Turner, Henry Cavill, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, James Norton and Harris Dickinson.

Six Actors Have Played James Bond

Dr. No was the first Bond film released in 1962, with Sean Connery debuting as 007. Fast forward 64 years, and there have been seven actors to grace the role of Bond on the big screens.

Connery and Roger Moore each played the role for seven films. George Lazenby did On Her Majesty's Secret Service, then stepped away from the role. Timothy Dalton did The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill, but declined a third film.

Pierce Brosnan took on the role for the next four films, beginning with GoldenEye (1995). Finally, Craig began his 007 duties in Casino Royale (2006), the first of his five Bond films.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 2:26 PM.