Bond 26 FAQ
29th June 2025
Answers to the top 10 questions about Denis Villeneuve and Bond 26
By MI6 Staff
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How many films will Villeneuve direct?
The deal is for the 26th James Bond film. It is not known if he has the right of first refusal for subsequent outings.
Will he get final cut?
No. Reports are that Villeneuve will not have final cut of the film. No Bond director in the history of the series has been given that, and Amazon is apparently not about to start making exceptions.
Who is writing it?
Villeneuve landed the job in part because of his original idea for the film. As the director was also under consideration for the last film, this idea has probably been percolating in his mind for several years now. Producers and Villeneuve will select writer/s to take his idea and create a first draft over the course of the next year. It is unlikely that Purvis & Wade will return. Writers that Villeneuve has worked with on recent films include Jon Spaihts, Eric Roth, Hampton Fancher, Michael Green, and Eric Heisserer.
What is the timeline?
Villeneuve is about to start shooting his third and final instalment in the ‘Dune’ series next month, and production is expected to take about a year. He will then rejoin pre-production on Bond 26 and start work on the script next summer (which will have its first draft completed by then).
When will the next 007 be cast?
After Villeneuve and producers are happy with the script, the official search for the seventh James Bond actor will commence. The studio is likely to have discussions and a shortlist of candidates in the meantime, and actors’ agents and publicists will be busy trying to get attention in the media. Nobody will be cast for at least a year.
When could shooting start?
Realistically, with a script lock in the autumn of 2026, shooting could start as early as the end of 2026 or early 2027.
When will Bond 26 come out?
Based on the pre-production timeline, the earliest Bond 26 could hit screens is late 2027. Ever since 'GoldenEye', the release date for a new Bond has been in the October-December window. Amazon could change all of that and anchor Bond in the summer blockbuster season of 2028.
What other frequent collaborators could we expect?
Villeneuve has worked with cinematographers Bradford Young, Greig Fraser, and Roger Deakins. The latter turned down the chance to follow up 'Skyfall' as he said he “had done Bond,” but that was with Mendes. Deakins is also 76 years old now. For composers, Villeneuve selected Jóhann Jóhannsson for three of his films in the 2010s, and has more recently collaborated with Hans Zimmer on last three films. Zimmer scored 'No Time To Die'. The editor of Bond 26 is likely to be Joe Walker, who has worked on Villeneuve’s last five films consecutively.
Which locations can we expect?
Hopefully somewhere other than Italy, which featured in four of Daniel Craig’s five films and has been overused. The shifting landscape of tax breaks around the world for production may steer Bond to certain locales, but it is difficult to predict what those will be two years from now.
What will the budget be?
'No Time To Die's budget ran a little out of control, especially with the false start with Danny Boyle, totaling $243m, not including marketing costs. The film earned an estimated $325m of ticket revenue for MGM, so after P&A costs, it probably broke even at best. Recent studio blockbusters have lost significant money, notably Disney and MCU tentpole outings, and attendance numbers are down across the board. Amazon’s deep pockets may not care about a cinematic loss, as the film will be a large driver for streaming after its theatrical exclusive window. On the positive side, a new Bond actor is considerably less expensive. All that considered, another budget in the range of $230m-$250m would be hard-pressed to turn a profit at the global box office under current market conditions.
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