- Published
When a bartender asked James Bond in 2006's Casino Royale whether he'd like his vodka martini shaken or stirred, the irritated spy replied: "Do I look like I give a damn?"
asserted
I → publish → damn
Such throwaway lines were a clever way of signalling to the audience that this was a new era for 007 - and that the film series launched in 1962 was being overhauled with the arrival of Daniel Craig.
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series → signal → Craig
Over the next few films, producers struck a balance between nodding to the past while also moving away from some of the cheesier elements of the series, no longer sticking rigidly to all of the tradition and tropes of Bond.
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producers → strike → Bond
"Were you expecting an exploding pen?" Ben Whishaw's Q later asked the secret service agent in Skyfall.
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Q → expect → Skyfall
"We don't really go in for that anymore."
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We → go → that
Two decades on from Craig's debut, the series is about to be rebooted once again, with a new actor and new creative team.
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series → reboot → actor
It's an exciting time for Bond fans as they wait to see what shape the next era will take.
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era → wait → shape
Here's what we know so far.
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we → know → what
When will the next James Bond actor be announced?
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actor → announce → ?
After years of speculation, the wheels are firmly in motion and we expect to hear who the new James Bond actor is in November or December.
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actor → expect → November
Speaking in August, producer Amy Pascal told Deadline:, external "I would say the end of the year is a good bet.
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end → speak → year
The final screen tests reportedly took place in late October, so, unless something unexpected happens, it should not take much longer for producers to make their decision and the actor to sign the contract.
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actor → take → contract
After that, it's just a matter of how the announcement will be made.
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announcement → make → that
In an earlier era, Bond actors were revealed with a traditional photo call or press conference.
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actors → reveal → call
But now that the franchise is owned by Amazon MGM, some expect the company to make the announcement via its own Prime Video streaming service.
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company → own → service
Who is the new James Bond going to be?
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Bond → go → Who
A handful of actors are thought to have made it to the final screen tests to take on Britain's biggest film role.
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handful → think → role
The three frontrunners are thought to be:
Jack Lowden, 36 - whose credits include Slow Horses and Pride and Prejudice
Josh O'Connor, 36 - The Crown, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Callum Turner, 36 - Masters of the Air, The Capture
Other actors in the frame include:
Jack O'Connell, 36 - Skins, Sinners
Jack Barton, 31 - Heartstopper, SAS: Rogue Heroes
Joe Alwyn, 35 - The Brutalist, Hamnet
Nicholas Hoult, 36 - About A Boy, Superman
Robert Pattinson, 40 - Twilight, The Batman
Jacob Elordi, 29 - Saltburn, Euphoria
Paul Mescal, 30 - Normal People, Gladiator II
But remember, Craig was a surprise choice in 2005, so don't bet against a wildcard candidate whose name has not yet been widely reported.
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name → think → candidate
When will the next Bond film be released?
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film → release → ?
The film is expected to go into production in 2027, before its release in 2028.
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film → expect → 2028
No exact dates have been announced.
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dates → announce → ?
It will be the 26th film in the official film series, but the title has not yet been confirmed.
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title → confirm → series
Who will write and direct the new Bond?
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Who → write → Bond
The movie will be directed by Denis Villeneuve, known for Prisoners, Sicario, Arrival, Blade Runner 2049 and the recent Dune trilogy starring Timothée Chalamet.
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movie → direct → Chalamet
"Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007," the French-Canadian director said last year.
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director → go → 007
"I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since Dr. No with Sean Connery.
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I → grow → Connery
He added: "I intend to honour the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come.
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missions → add → path
Bond 26 will be written by Steven Knight, known for TV series such as Peaky Blinders and House of Guinness, and films including Burnt, Spencer, Locke and The Girl in the Spider's Web.
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Bond → write → Web
Knight has said it had always been on his "bucket list" to write a Bond film, adding that he felt he was "doing my duty for King and country" by joining the franchise.
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he → say → franchise
He told the BBC he planned to "write the character, not the actor", adding: "The thing with Bond is it's its own universe and franchise.
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it → tell → Bond
"Obviously you have to move it along, but I love where it sits.
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it → have → it
I love that it's British.
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it → love → ?
I love that it's not DC or Marvel...
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it → love → ?
So I feel a responsibility to the text."
Who else has played James Bond?
Only six actors have played James Bond.
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played → feel → Bond
They are:
Sean Connery starred in six official Bond films between 1962 and 1971
George Lazenby starred in just one Bond film, in 1969
Roger Moore starred in seven Bond films between 1973 and 1985
Timothy Dalton starred in two Bond films, in 1987 and 1989
Pierce Brosnan starred in four Bond films, between 1995 and 2002
Daniel Craig starred in five Bond films between 2006 and 2021
You might have noticed some overlap in the above dates.
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You → star → dates
That's because Connery returned to the lead role for 1971's Diamonds Are Forever, after Lazenby took his place for 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
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Lazenby → return → Service
Connery also later appeared in 1983's Never Say Never Again, a Bond film produced by a different studio and not part of the official film series.
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Connery → appear → series
If you discount the films not in the official series, there have been 25 Bond films in total.
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you → discount → total
In order, they are:
Dr No (1962)
From Russia With Love (1963)
Goldfinger (1964)
Thunderball (1965)
You Only Live Twice (1967)
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
Live and Let Die (1973)
The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
Moonraker (1979)
For Your Eyes Only (1981)
Octopussy (1983)
A View to a Kill (1985)
The Living Daylights (1987)
Licence to Kill (1989)
GoldenEye (1995)
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
The World Is Not Enough (1999)
Die Another Day (2002)
Casino Royale (2006)
Quantum of Solace (2008)
Skyfall (2012)
Spectre (2015)
No Time to Die (2021)
How could the new film be different?
uncertain
film → live → Solace
With the change in ownership and a new creative team now in place, the new Bond film is likely to make a fresh start.
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film → make → start
…and 7 more, not listed.
The Aporia
