Amazon’s Rumored New Bond 26 Actor Rewrites The Franchise’s History

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Each actor who has played James Bond has brought something different to the role, but the potential direction for the next film, Bond 26, suggests a much bigger change. Throughout the long history of James Bond movies, there have always been shifts in how the stories are told and the overall feel of the films, as those involved have often pointed out.

While the ending of No Time to Die surprised many by killing James Bond, the franchise had previously explored darker themes. Daniel Craig’s first Bond film, Casino Royale, gave 007 a painful past, and On Her Majesty’s Secret Service featured a heartbreaking twist by killing Bond’s wife.

As a Bond fan, I always felt like things shifted with Pierce Brosnan and especially Roger Moore. Their films were way more over-the-top and funny than the earlier ones. Timothy Dalton really brought a darker, more realistic edge to the character, but then Brosnan came in and added this playful, almost winking humor that was a big change of pace. It was a different vibe entirely!

Jacob Elordi Is Rumored To Be Bond 26’s New 007

Image courtesy of Everett Collection

With the search still on for the next James Bond, whoever is cast as the lead will greatly influence the feel of the upcoming film. While a director has been chosen – Dennis Villeneuve – his style doesn’t automatically determine what the movie will be like, even though he’s not typically known for lighthearted comedies.

Martin Campbell, who directed both Goldeneye and Casino Royale, clearly knows how to drastically change the tone of a James Bond film. Goldeneye was lighthearted and playful, while Casino Royale was gritty and emotionally intense. Because of this, the casting of Jacob Elordi, known for his role in Wuthering Heights, as the next Bond could significantly influence the style and feel of the upcoming movie.

I’ve been following the James Bond casting news closely, and Jacob Elordi’s name has been at the top of a lot of fan lists – along with guys like Harris Dickinson, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Tom Hardy. But, I just saw something interesting on the Deuxmoi blog – it’s an unconfirmed rumor, so take it with a grain of salt – that Amazon has actually offered the role to Elordi, and he’s said yes! If this is true, they might start filming as early as October 2026, which is so exciting!

The rumor about the next James Bond actor is likely just speculation, as an official announcement hasn’t been made years after the last film, No Time To Die. However, casting Jacob Elordi could align with a significant shift the producers were reportedly exploring after Amazon took over the James Bond franchise.

A 2025 report suggested that the producers of the James Bond franchise were looking for a younger actor to take on the role of 007. This would allow them to secure the star for many years to come. Because there’s often a significant gap between Bond films, it could be difficult to keep an older actor committed to the series while they also work on other projects.

Elordi Would Be The Youngest James Bond In The Franchise’s History

Although Jacob Elordi was chosen over actors like Timothée Chalamet, Glen Powell, and Idris Elba, the surprising thing isn’t who he beat, but his age. At 28, he’d be the youngest actor ever to take on the role of James Bond.

George Lazenby, an Australian actor, was only 29 years old when he took on the role of James Bond, but he only appeared in one film. While some feel his performance didn’t get the recognition it deserved, his young age likely contributed to his short time as 007. He was succeeded by Roger Moore, who was 45, in the next James Bond movie.

Roger Moore played James Bond until age 57, then Timothy Dalton, who was 41, took over. Pierce Brosnan began the role at 42 and continued until he was nearly 50. When Daniel Craig was cast, he was seen as a younger, newer take on the character.

007 Actor Age In First Bond Movie Age In Final Bond Movie
Sean Connery 32 41
George Lazenby 29 N/A
Roger Moore 45 57
Timothy Dalton 41 43
Pierce Brosnan 42 49
Daniel Craig 38 51

When Daniel Craig first became James Bond, he was already ten years older than Jacob Elordi is now. While Sean Connery was just 32 when he started playing Bond, Craig, at 38, seemed relatively young compared to the other actors who had previously held the role.

Making Bond Younger Fundamentally Redefines The Character of 007

While an actor’s age often doesn’t matter much for a role, it’s a bit different with James Bond. Bond is known as a sophisticated and experienced professional, rarely shown as someone new to the job. Even Daniel Craig’s Bond, who was introduced as a fresh agent, was already nearing 40 years old in his first film.

Daniel Craig’s James Bond already seemed seasoned when he first appeared on screen, even before becoming 007. So, the idea of casting someone ten years younger feels like a major shift for the franchise, if the producers move forward with it for the next film.

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2026-02-20 20:43