In last year's No Time to Die, Daniel Craig bid farewell to 007 by doing the unthinkable and killing the character off. Now, the hunt is on for a new James Bond, and longtime franchise producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson shared an update on how their search is progressing during a recent interview with Variety (via ActioNewz.com).
We've heard that there might a considerable wait for an announcement, and it definitely sounds like they're taking their time recruiting the next Bond. Why? Well, they need to find someone who is willing to stick around for the long haul.
"The thing is, it’s going to be a couple of years off," Broccoli confirms. "And when we cast Bond, it’s a 10-, 12-year commitment. So he’s probably thinking, ‘Do I really want that thing? Not everybody wants to do that. It was hard enough getting [Daniel Craig to do it]."
"A lot of people think, 'Oh yeah, it’d be fun to do one,'" she adds with a laugh. "Well. That ain’t gonna work." Wilson then chimed in to add, "It’s a big investment for us, too, to bring out a new Bond."
"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?’" Broccoli notes. "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."
Amazon acquired MGM for $8.5 billion back in March, with the Bond franchise one of their biggest incentives for buying. Fans immediately started wondering how the company might expand 007's adventures, but for Broccoli and Wilson, any sort of small screen adventure for 007 is off the table.
"We’re trying to keep it theatrical," Broccoli is quick to point out. "Well, we’re gonna keep it theatrical. We’re not going to try; we’ve got to do it. It’s just a theatrical franchise."
We'll see how long that lasts. While Bond himself may be a big screen character, there are plenty of ways the franchise could expand to television, and we have to believe that's an appealing prospect to Amazon given the success of Prime Video. As for casting news, it seems patience is required on that front.
Unfortunately, the longer we wait, the sooner some fan-favourite casting picks get aged out of the role!