A well-placed source tells me that Amazon is quietly pushing for Jacob Elordi as a contender for the next James Bond, though no formal offer has been sent out, and we’re still a long ways away from official casting. Elordi will likely have a screen test next year, the usual tuxedo fit and action scene.
Denis Villeneuve is expected to have a say in the matter, and so far there’s been no indication of a pushback on his part in terms of Elordi’s casting. A final decision is supposed to be made on the next 007 actor in mid-2026.
I reached out to Amazon, but the studio declined to comment.
What makes this development curious is that just last week, Deadline’s Baz Bamigboye reported Amazon’s criteria for the next Bond as that of an “unknown” British actor. Elordi is neither. He’s Australian, but his stock has been rapidly rising thanks to “Euphoria,” “Priscilla,” “Saltburn,” and the upcoming “Frankenstein.”
Elordi, 28, may, however, be a perfect fit for 007, a character that requires the looks, but a certain detached coldness, which Elordi has. He’d make a compelling Bond because he combines striking looks with an imposing frame and a natural air of detachment that aligns with Ian Fleming’s colder, more ruthless 007. His performances have shown he can balance charm with menace — exactly the duality required of James Bond.
A key factor in this reboot is screenwriter Steven Knight, who is penning Bond 26 for Amazon MGM. With credits including “Peaky Blinders” and “Eastern Promises,” Knight has a history of gritty, violent storytelling. One insider notes that the new Bond needs to look like “he could kill you with his bare hands in a trice” — a clear nod to Ian Fleming’s more brutal conception of the character. Standing at 6’5”, Elordi certainly fits the physical criteria.
Knight is said to be drawing heavily from Fleming’s earliest novels, which could signal an “origin” Bond — revisiting his Royal Navy background, his recruitment into MI6, and eventual attainment of “00” status. The story could even be set in the ’50s or ’60s.
Still, casting won’t formally begin until Villeneuve wraps “Dune: Part Three.” Production on Bond 26 is expected to kick off in 2027, with a release planned for 2028, likely in the traditional November slot long favored for Bond premieres.
The ‘Smile’ franchise has a new director. David Bruckner, who made “The Night House” and the 2022 “Hellraiser” reboot, has been hired to direct “Smile 3” for Paramount.