We May Soon Have Our New 007

Active recruitment is on for the next James Bond. Amazon MGM Studios says the hunt for Daniel Craig's successor as 007 is officially underway, with auditions taking place in recent weeks under the eye of top casting director Nina Gold, per Variety. The studio isn't naming names yet, but its statement marks the first formal confirmation that the next Bond film is moving beyond rumor stage. Betting markets are already crowded, per the BBC: British actor Callum Turner currently leads the pack, with Jacob Elordi, Harris Dickinson, Henry Cavill, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Theo James all in the mix.

The new Bond would be the eighth in the franchise, following in the footsteps of Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Craig. The next film, which will be the 26th in the series, will be directed by Dune's Denis Villeneuve and written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, who says the script is "going fantastically."

No plot, cast, or release date has been announced, but Amazon film chief Courtenay Valenti told CinemaCon last month that the team is taking its time, "with care and deep respect" for the franchise. Whoever lands the role will become just the eighth official Bond in the series' 64-year history. Amazon first announced it would be rebooting the franchise in February of last year, per a release.