THE next James Bond film will not be released for another two years — making it the longest gap between 007 movies in their 64-year history.
Amazon executives, who have yet to replace in the lead role, have earmarked spring 2028 for the spy’s return, meaning fans will have waited for seven years.
The next James Bond film will not be released for another two years Credit: Alamy
The longest gap between two films was six years and four months, pictured No Time To Die, Craig’s last bout as the super spy Credit: Alamy
Craig’s final appearance as in 2021’s No Time to Die came six years after his outing in Spectre.
However, the longest gap was six years, four months — between Licence to Kill in 1989 and GoldenEye in 1995.
Dune director Denis Villeneuve is collaborating on the outline of a story for the next film with creator Steven Knight, but the final draft is not expected until next winter.
Studios executives Amy Pascal and David Heyman are compiling a list of potential leading men to replace Craig, 58.
Meetings are expected with candidates this summer.
Bookies’ frontrunners include , 36, , 29, and , 35.
A movie insider said: “Bond won’t be back until 2028. The production mindset’s gone from ‘Let’s hurry this through’ to ‘Make sure we get this right’. Denis wanted a long break after Dune 3 and has some broad ideas on the script. Steven will get on with drafts, before they map out the final version. That’ll take at least the whole summer.”
The insider added: “Realistically, if they can make January 2027 work for pre-production then that will be a success.
“The principal photography will run until the summer and the film always takes around nine months to a year to edit.”
Actress Lucy Fleming, 78, the niece of the late Bond author Ian Fleming, said the producers were “approaching it in a wonderful way”.
But asked who will play 007, she joked: “If I tell you, I’ll have to kill you!”
Amazon executives have earmarked spring 2028 for the spy’s return Credit: AP
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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