James Bond producers are searching for actor to sign up for 12 YEARS

James Bond producers are searching for an actor to sign up for 12 YEARS when they pick new 007 – as Henry Cavill, Regé-Jean Page and Tom Hardy remain favourites to take over

James Bond producers are searching for an actor to sign up for a whopping 12 years when they pick a new 007.

Franchise boss Barbara Broccoli has told how her team are planning a ‘reinvention’ of the British Secret Service agent character so need the huge ‘commitment’ from whoever is chosen. 

It comes as she appeared to rule out 50-year-old Idris Elba from taking on the more than decade-long role due to his age. 

Commitment: James Bond producers are searching for an actor to sign up for a whopping 12 years when they pick a new 007 (favourite to take over Henry Cavill is pictured) 

Bookies Ladbrokes now have Henry Cavill, 39, at 2-1 to be the next 007 with Bridgerton star Regé-Jean Page, 34, at 7-2, Tom Hardy, 45, at 4-1 and Oscar-winner Chi­we­­tel Ejiofor, also 45, 13-2. 

Ms Broccoli told The Mirror of her plans for the next Bond: ‘We love Idris. The thing is, the decision is going to be a couple of years off.

‘And when we cast Bond, it’s a 10 to 12-year commitment. So he’s probably thinking, ‘Do I really want that?’.

‘It’s not just about casting an actor for a film, it’s about a reinvention.’ 

Project: Franchise boss Barbara Broccoli has told how her team are planning a ‘reinvention of Bond so need the huge ‘commitment’ from whoever is chosen (Tom Hardy a contender is pictured) 

She also noted that it was difficult to encourage Daniel Craig, now 54, to take on the role in 2006, adding: ‘And he was in his 30s at the time.’

It comes after producers have said the upcoming movies in the franchise will have bigger roles for women and see a more ’emotional’ side to the 007 spy.

Barbara and Michael G. Wilson spoke about their plans for the franchise following the departure of Daniel as Bond in No Time To Die.

Producer Barbara, 62, said Daniel, 54, humanised the once-womanising spy and that the character’s ’emotional’ evolution will continue in the next instalment.

Favorites: Bookies Ladbrokes now have Henry Cavill, 39, at 2-1 to be the next 007 with Bridgerton star Regé-Jean Page, 34, (pictured) at 7-2, Tom Hardy, 45, at 4-1 and Oscar-winner Chi­we­­tel Ejiofor, also 45, 13-2

She also spoke about how recent Bond films have featured larger roles for women, adding that they plan to incorporate meatier female roles in the new movies as well.

‘It’s an evolution,’ she told Variety magazine. ‘Bond is evolving just as men are evolving, I don’t know who’s evolving at a faster pace.’

No Time To Die saw Lashana Lynch play fellow spy Nomi, making history as the first Black female double-O agent.

Speaking about Daniel’s more humanised version of Bond, Barbara – who produces the franchise with her half-brother Michael – said it was the first time the spy was ‘cracked open emotionally’.

Stepping aside: It comes as she appeared to rule out 50-year-old Idris Elba from taking on the more than decade-long role due to his age 

‘The films over [Daniel’s] tenure were the first time we really connected the emotional arc,’ she said.

Stars including Tom Hardy, Richard Madden and Henry Cavill have also been tipped as front runners to be cast as Bond, after Barbara confirmed the next agent would be a man.

Venom actor Tom, 45, seemingly confirmed that he wants to be the next 007 – by refusing to talk about the part in fear it will get him blacklisted.

Speaking to the Daily Beast in 2017, he admitted: ‘If I mention it, it’s gone.’

Plans: It comes after producer Barbara (pictured) said the upcoming movies in the franchise will have bigger roles for women and see a more ’emotional’ side to the 007 spy 

He explained: ‘You know, there’s a saying amongst us in the fraternity of acting, and in the fellowship of my peer group, that if you talk about it you’re automatically out of the race. So I can’t possibly comment on that one!’

While Henry, 39, has been on record for years indicating he’s still interested in the coveted role should an opportunity arise. 

He told The Sunday Times in 2021 that ‘time will tell’ if he becomes the latest actor to portray the iconic role, with Daniel Craig exiting the action franchise.

‘You don’t know which direction they want to take Bond in and so I like to say that everything’s always on the table,’ he said.

Exit: Barbara also said they are in no rush to find a new actor to play Bond, after Daniel stepped back from the role following his fifth and final instalment

The Superman star, who was up for the role in 2005 when Daniel was cast, speculated on who could be eyed for the role.

He told GQ in 2020 that he ‘would absolutely jump at the opportunity’ if it arose, as he ‘would love to play Bond’ and that ‘it would be very, very exciting’.

Another favourite is Regé Jean-Page, who admitted last year that he’s ‘flattered’ to be included among a host of British stars tipped for the iconic role.

He told The Mirror: ‘Ah, the B word. I think that if you are British and you do anything of note, that other people take notice of, then people will start talking about that.’

Despite being the bookies favourite, the Bridgerton star said he was bemused by the idea of making any plans at ‘this moment in history’ and has ‘given up’ doing so.

Barbara – the daughter of original James Bond producer Albert Broccoli – has previously told patient fans they could still be waiting some time  for the 26th Eon film as shooting for the next epic is ‘at least two years away’. 

Speaking at a dinner where she and screenwriter Michael, 80, were awarded BFI fellowships in June, Barbara also hinted at major changes to the character as she said they are ‘reinventing’ the MI6 agent.

According to the Daily Mail’s Richard Eden, she teased: ‘I’d say that filming is at least two years away. It’s a reinvention of Bond.’

Rumours: Richard Madden, who recently starred in Marvel’s The Eternals, has also been reported to be in consideration for Bond 

She also said she and Michael have not started writing a script for the upcoming 007 film because they want to first make decisions on casting and how they will approach the next instalment. 

The half-siblings were handed the reins to Albert Broccoli’s famed Eon Productions in 1995, a year before he passed away at 87 years of age.

Barbara and Michael have been in charge of the 007 franchise ever since, casting both Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig through their Bond runs. 

It comes after Ian Fleming’s Instagram account teased a special announcement coming up for the franchise. The late writer died in 1964.

Coming soon: It comes after Ian Fleming’s Instagram account teased a special announcement coming up for the franchise

Sharing a cryptic post of a retro typewriter, the account under the late writer’s name teased the announcement for October 5, which has officially been dubbed ‘James Bond day’.

‘See you on James Bond Day! #007,’ penned the account, adding eyeball emojis. 

The post left fans full of excitement, taking to the comments as one wrote that they were ‘eagerly anticipating’ the news.

October 5 is also known as James Bond Day for fans of the long-running franchise – as it is the date of the 1962 World Premiere of the first James Bond film.

This day of celebrations first began in 2012 when the Bond films celebrated their golden anniversary – holding events all around the globe.

Elsewhere, Amazon recently acquired MGM, the studio behind Bond, for £6billion and the deal will see the first ever reality TV series based on the franchise.

Bond: 007’s Road to a Million will see contestants follow clues in an epic worldwide race, competing for a £1million cash prize.

Barbara admitted her reluctance to do a TV show for Bond as they didn’t want the contestants to have to do ‘dangerous’ things, but she insisted filming was perfectly safe.

Who is in the running to be the next James Bond? 

HENRY CAVILL

Henry Cavill  

Henry has been on record for years indicating he’s still interested in the coveted role should an opportunity arise. 

He told The Sunday Times in 2021 that ‘time will tell’ if he becomes the latest actor to portray the iconic role, with Daniel Craig exiting the action franchise.

‘You don’t know which direction they want to take Bond in and so I like to say that everything’s always on the table,’ he said.

The Superman star, who was up for the role in 2005 when Daniel was cast, speculated on who could be eyed for the role.

He told GQ in 2020 that he ‘would absolutely jump at the opportunity’ if it arose, as he ‘would love to play Bond’ and that ‘it would be very, very exciting.’

ODDS: 5/2

REGE JEAN-PAGE  

Regé-Jean admitted last year that he’s ‘flattered’ to be included among a host of British stars tipped for the iconic role.

He told The Mirror: ‘Ah, the B word. I think that if you are British and you do anything of note, that other people take notice of, then people will start talking about that.’

However despite being the bookies favourite, the Brigerton star said he was bemused by the idea of making any plans at ‘this moment in history’ and has ‘given up’ doing so.

He also admitted that he can be a bit of a ‘racehorse’, often signing onto a project and focusing completely on it with the ‘blinders on’.

ODDS: 4/1 

TOM HARDY

Tom confirmed that he wants to be the next 007 – by refusing to talk about the part in fear it will get him blacklisted.

 Tom Hardy

Speaking to the Daily Beast in 2017, he admitted: ‘If I mention it, it’s gone.’

He explained: ‘You know, there’s a saying amongst us in the fraternity of acting, and in the fellowship of my peer group, that if you talk about it you’re automatically out of the race. So I can’t possibly comment on that one!’

But Moneypenny actress Naomie Harris said she believes he should get the part.

Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine, the Moonlight star admitted that she’d ‘never worked with Tom before’ but is clearly a huge fan.

She added: ‘I think what he does is so special and technically difficult. He would make a great Bond but they always pick someone we don’t expect and is up and coming’.

ODDS: 6/1 

JAMES NORTON

The Grantchester star said that it’s ‘crazy and quite flattering’ to be considered a replacement for James Bond – although him being considered is ‘pure speculation’.

He told The Times in 2020 being in the running is: ‘Crazy… It’s bizarre and quite flattering to be even considered in that world, but beyond that? Pure speculation.’

James Norton  

James added: ‘I love the franchise and hope Barbara Broccoli continues to make it relevant. Going into the heart of Bond’s private world, as opposed to one-liners, is already progress.’

In an interview with GQ in 2021, he insisted that while having a ‘Bond of colour’ is important, executives should focus on ‘treating the cause rather than the symptom’.

The TV star said: ‘That, I think, is more important. Obviously, casting a Bond of colour is important if handled in a sensitive way, but there’s a bigger picture: we need to treat the cause rather than the symptom.

‘There is an argument, that, rather than make Bond a person of colour, why not create a new story that is authentically representative and isn’t repurposed?

‘But, then, you’re never going to create a franchise that will compete with the power of Bond from the off. It has to be a bit of everything, doesn’t it? I realise I’m talking in platitudes.’

ODDS: 6/1 

CHIWETEL EJIOFOR 

It was first reported in 2014 that The 12 Years A Slave star was the first choice to play 007’s adversary.

Producers Barbara and Michael G. Wilson want the Oscar and Golden Globe-nominated actor but have yet to make a formal offer, Variety claimed.

This was alleged before Spectre’s release in November 2015 and Daniel had already signed on to return as Bond for the upcoming movie and the 25th iteration.

But Chiwetel told Variety of his The Martian co-star in 2015: ‘I want Michael Peña to be James Bond. That’s what I want.’

ODDS: 7/1 

Source: Read Full Article