How Lengthy The Subsequent James Bond Actor Casting Is Taking In contrast To Each Earlier 007

The James Bond franchise has undergone a number of iterations over time, however the hiatus between Daniel Craig’s exit in No Time to Die and Amazon’s upcoming franchise is the longest hole between recasts. There have been prolonged gaps between movies, however by no means such an prolonged interval the place no person was formally contracted to the function.

With updates on Bond 26 changing into more and more uncommon, it may very well be a very long time earlier than James Bond lastly enters its new period below Amazon’s artistic management. There have been a number of authorized disputes and licensing conflicts all through its historical past, with sure Bond motion pictures going forward with Eon’s involvement. Nonetheless, the studio has all the time managed to deliver someone new on board inside just a few years.

It is Been Virtually 6 Years Since Daniel Craig Confirmed He Was Leaving James Bond

The Actor Introduced His Departure In 2019

Though No Time To Die wasn’t launched till 2021, Craig had already introduced that he was leaving the franchise two years prior. The actor had already confirmed himself to be some of the devoted James Bond actors ever, serving fifteen years within the function between On line casino Royale and No Time To Die. His departure was an enormous turning level for the franchise, as there’d already been some main negotiations at MGM concerning potential acquisitions; the way forward for the collection had by no means appeared extra unsure.

Within the years that adopted, little or no progress was made by way of casting the subsequent James Bond. A number of names have been tentatively thrown into the combo, with Aaron Taylor-Johnson rapidly rising as the favourite. Nonetheless, a lot of this tough work was undone when Amazon acquired the rights to James Bond in February 2025. Since then, the studio has been desperately looking for the suitable forged and crew to push this franchise into the longer term, however no person has formally been connected but. Administrators equivalent to Christopher Nolan and Alfonso Cuarón have been each reportedly approached, however no agreements have been signed.

Pierce Brosnan’s Substitute Was Introduced After One 12 months

The Actor Was The Face Of Bond All through The ’90s

The final time a brand new actor took over because the face of the James Bond franchise was twenty years in the past, when Craig was formally forged as Pierce Brosnan’s substitute in 2005. He was the sixth actor to painting the enduring spy on movie, and the casting course of for On line casino Royale was a lot swifter than what’s occurring with Bond 26. The primary stories of Brosnan’s departure began rolling in round September 2004 (by way of Leisure Weekly), and it was mere months later that Craig had signed his contract.

Whereas there was plenty of backlash surrounding Craig’s casting as James Bond, the actor finally proved himself to be a greater than deserving candidate for this iconic function. Nonetheless, it’s secure to imagine that his public backlash is a number one contributor to the continued silence from Amazon throughout their auditions. The idea of discovering the “good” James Bond has turn into such a complete a part of the franchise, and it feels just like the studio’s excessive expectations are inflicting extra issues than advantages.

Timothy Dalton’s Substitute Was Introduced In The Identical 12 months

Brosnan’s Casting Was A Report-Breaking Turnaround

Surprisingly, given how strongly his Bond period was suffering from studio disputes, Timothy Dalton’s substitute was discovered only a few months after the actor formally introduced his departure from the franchise in 1994. Dalton famously solely appeared in two James Bond motion pictures, however there have been plans for a 3rd. This by no means got here to go resulting from licensing disputes, and Dalton stepped again as quickly as his contract expired. This was clearly a predictable determination, as Eon was able to announce his substitute only a few months later.

Brosnan had been the second selection for Bond after Roger Moore’s departure, so the studio already had him in thoughts when it got here to changing Dalton. That is clearly a really totally different state of affairs from the one which Amazon at present finds itself in, the place the studio should primarily reboot James Bond from scratch with a complete new crew of each creatives and executives.

Roger Moore’s Substitute Was Introduced After One 12 months

Dalton Went By way of An Spectacular Audition Course of

After seven James Bond motion pictures led by Roger Moore, it got here as no shock when the actor determined to step again from the franchise in 1985, marking A View To A Kill as his remaining entry within the canon. Only one yr later, Dalton was introduced as his substitute. Regardless of the short turnaround, there was nonetheless an in depth audition course of, and Dalton reportedly impressed Eon executives Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson together with his classically skilled abilities.

Changing Roger Moore as James Bond was definitely no simple feat, however the truth that Eon managed to show round one other wonderful actor (who was very well-received) in simply twelve months proves how swift and environment friendly the casting course of actually was. There was little doubt that James Bond would proceed in some kind, so discovering a brand new actor was the highest precedence. This wasn’t fairly the case following No Time To Die, the place the way forward for the franchise was notably up within the air.

George Lazenby’s Substitute Was Introduced After Three Years

Moore Stepped Into The Franchise After A Brief Break

There’s a quick interval in James Bond’s historical past the place possession of the character jumps backwards and forwards between Sean Connery, George Lazenby, and Moore. Strictly talking, there have been three years between Lazenby’s departure and Moore’s arrival. Connery briefly returned in Diamonds Are Without end throughout this window, however he by no means meant to return again full-time, and Eon passively continued their seek for a brand new Bond throughout that movie’s manufacturing.

Sean Connery’s Substitute Was Introduced After One 12 months

Connery’s First Motion pictures Have been Succeeded By George Lazenby

Strictly following the lineage of Eon-produced Bond motion pictures (i.e., ignoring David Niven’s stint in 1967’s On line casino Royale), there was just below one yr between Connery’s departure from the function and Lazenby’s casting as the subsequent 007. Though Lazenby solely portrayed Bond as soon as, he rapidly impressed Broccoli and Wilson together with his stoicism and emotionless interpretation of the character, maybe resulting from how severely it differed from Connery’s mild and charming efficiency.

The idea of James Bond being “recast” was considerably unprecedented when Connery parted methods with the franchise after You Solely Dwell Twice, and studio executives have been reportedly very desirous to get him again and keep a way of continuity between the movies. Nonetheless, the short turnaround of Lazenby’s casting set the precedent for introducing the world to a “new” Bond each time the earlier actor stepped again — a practice that’s continued all through the James Bond franchise.