Josh O’Connor as Bond. Dominic West as M.
Would make the current King of England very proud… 
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I’m not a fan of Josh O’Connor or Callum Turner as Bond (both of them have distractingly big ears at 90 degrees to their heads, shallow though that may be), but I could totally get behind Dominic West as the new M.
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Was more making a poor joke at them both having played Charles. O’Connor would make a better Q if they keep it in the Whishaw mould…though id prefer if they went for the Alaister Mackenzie is style for new Q.
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It’s strange, this is the first time I witness the role being recast and I have patently, demonstrably no favourite. I understand how and why certain names are popping up, why they stay in orbit for a time, or disappear again. But I really don’t see an undiscovered Bond out there myself.
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I hope it stays that way personally. I would love to not only be surprised by the announcement, but I REALLY hope to say, “Yes!!!”
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Of the known names I’ve seen, Turner strikes me as the most obvious now, and it’s been that way for a while. Oh, and in terms of numerology he has six letters in his surname like Dalton. Every other Bond has either 7 (Connery, Lazenby, Brosnan) or 5 (Moore, Craig).
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There is an update about Bond towards the end of the article.
Pascal says that it “is a good bet” that we’ll know who the new Bond is by the end of the year.
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They should, provided they want to get moving in early 2027. Sooner or later they just have to make their decision and then stick to their guns. SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY as well as THE ODYSSEY both show cinema can still draw a crowd. Go for it.
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I get the feeling they’re further along than they want us to think they are.
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I suppose they know what they want to do, they know it’s going to cause some noise and they probably would like to push that as far back as possible so the cast and crew are in their tunnel by the time the ruckus starts.
Not that I think it’s going to be really a big issue outside the fanbase.
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I’ve been thinking the same thing. Knight has been writing this thing for what… a year? I can’t imagine that’s all that has been taking place since he joined the team. Also, no reason they can’t continue to refine the script even after the main cast and crew are on board.
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I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of that wasn’t already in place. I think they know who Bond is going to be or have it down to a small enough group that they can begin looking at actors and actresses for the other major roles.
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The pace of this makes me think that the movie is about to get delayed.
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In a way it already is delayed several years. There’s of course no telling what the next six months may throw at us - from economy to upheaval everything is still on the BS bingo card - but they certainly seem to want to move and be able to wrap production swiftly once they are rolling. Which of course every production wants to do, only with BOND 26 it will be several magnitudes above average.
Personally I think a decent script is the first requirement for a good (Bond-)film and Steven Knight being involved here is at least a good basis. There will be others, sure. But as long as the Amazon boss doesn’t involve himself or demand a running briefing on the progress - and we’d likely hear about that, such things have a way of seeping through sooner or later - it’s still a good bet they will start late 2026/early 2027. Villeneuve should be sifting through location scouting reports, storyboards and the like. There should be a number of roles they already know they want to cast with A, B and C. And soundstages have to be booked.
It should all fall into place in the next few months.
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I have a feeling the movie will be more Bond centric than usual, really getting to know the man, his habits and general vibe. Showing us the life of a spy with a greater focus on surveillance, infiltration and that sort of thing. Denis would nail that type of story.
I agree.
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In case you were jonesing for some fresh Fleming pleasantness.
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I want someone over 30, not already known or mentioned, capable and willing to do five films in ten years.
Is that too difficult?
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“American shaped head”??
Only Fleming…
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It doesn’t really bother me if they’re known to some degree. Moore and Brosnan both were. I just want someone who will do the job right. I don’t want a sad Dr Who style cautionary tale to be repeated. That show spanned over 60 years like Bond and flamed out. This stuff is more than just entertainment to me. It’s part of our culture, and childhoods. People working on these franchises really are custodians. Weight is on their shoulders because of what came before. If they don’t get the casting right they’re kneecapping themselves before cameras even start rolling.
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I´m sure they are feeling that.
But these days decisions in the entertainment business are not made based on creative criteria alone anymore. More important are market research and PR reach.
If the new guy has no appeal for teenagers and young adults, with a willingness to be exposed on social media 24/7, he could be the best actor ever - he would fall through the cracks of all the pre-testing (which is more important or at least a main part of the casting sessions; they only get in if they get past that hurdle anyway).
Sounds negative? It sure feels to me that way. But that’s the way the cookie crumbles these days.
I am involved in two new shows currently, and yes, great actors are considered - but in the end the marketability will always trump everything else.
Was that the case before, with Moore? Only partly. It helped Moore to be already exposed to the public via tv shows. It also helped Brosnan considerably. Dalton wasn’t part of the public conversation - and it hurt his appeal as Bond. Craig was a different case: known in special circles but mainly a leap of faith for everybody, only EON could push him through.
Those days are over.
Pascal & Co might offer up someone like Craig - but they will not be able to make him Bond if the big cheese says no.
My prediction: it will be somebody already known, and definitely in his mid-20´s.
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