Casting for next James Bond may conclude by year's end, producer says

The casting process for the next James Bond actor may produce a decision by the end of this year, according to producer Amy Pascal. Amazon MGM Studios confirmed in May that the search was under way. Entertainment writer Daniel Richtman reported last month that producers are in the final round of casting and may have already found their choice. Names discussed during the process have included Henry Cavill, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack Lowden, James Norton, and Paul Mescal, though it remains unclear which actors have formally auditioned.

Only six actors have played Bond in the official film series. The last announcement came in 2005. The next film, known as Bond 26, will be written by Steven Knight and directed by Denis Villeneuve, with a release widely expected in 2028. That would mark the longest gap between Bond films in franchise history, surpassing the six years between Licence to Kill and GoldenEye.