JAMES BOND Search Narrowing As Producers Bring in Talent to Test for the Role of the Next 007

The search for the next James Bond is finally closing in as franchise producers and director Denis Villeneuve have begun informing talent who have made the next round of auditions, which will occur later this summer.

Villeneuve has been calling talent directly, and although the filmmaker is keeping a tight lid on who they’re in talks with, it was revealed to Deadline that auditions are set to take place in August.

As for how many actors will test in August, while one source tells the outlet they expect producers to cast a wide net, the exact number of actors is unknown with some sources saying between 5-7, while others said in the teens.

Nina Gold, who closed a deal in April to be the casting director on the film, has been meeting with actors for the past several weeks, but sources say those meetings were for lesser known names to see if anyone should be added to the list of prominent actors expected to get a call for the next round.

With those auditions wrapping, insiders say Villeneuve and producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman have started making contact with actors over the past week to inform them about the August auditions.

Actors like Harris Dickinson, Callum Turner and Jacob Elordi fit the prototype of who producers are eyeing for this next leg of auditions, but again no names have been confirmed at this time.

Though it still may be a bit before we find out who will play 007, the timing fits with the studio having their actor by the end of the year so that production can begin some time in 2027.

Steven Knight (Eastern Promises, Locke, Peaky Blinders) is set to write the script with Villeneuve (Prisoners, Blade Runner 2049, Dune) directing. Who would you like to see take over as the next James Bond?