Summary

• Bond 26 faces a challenge in living up to past success and the legacy of Daniel Craig's reinvention of the character.
• The new Bond film's delay suggests careful planning, but risks losing momentum in a rapidly changing industry.
• The future Bond actor must navigate high expectations, evolving storytelling, and stiff competition in the spy genre.

James Bond is one of the most enduring franchises in movie history, but making Bond 26 as successful as past iterations is going to be a challenge. Daniel Craig, the last actor to take up the mantle of 007, reshaped the character of Bond in many ways, as did the films he starred in. Audience have high expectations for who will be the next actor to embody the role, as well as the tonal shift the next film needs to take to stay relevant.

Much of the decision-making process behind Bond 26 remains shrouded in mystery, but that doesn't end speculation about how Bond will evolve. For many reasons, Bond 26's reboot will be harder after Craig's 007 era because of just how much is going to change. ing an enduring story like Bond after so many years is a lot of pressure for performers as well as those making creative choices behind the scenes. The legacy of the franchise can only be relied upon so much to get people in the audience.

10 Bond 26 Is Taking A Very Long Time After No Time To Die

It's already been three years.

The gap between Craig becoming Bond and Brosnan stepping down was just four years between releases, meaning production started well before that. As of now, three years past the 2021 release of No Time To Die, Bond 26 is no closer to production. Looking at this optimistically, it could mean that producers are taking their time and not rushing into big decisions that will determine the fate of Bond in the next generation. If the new Bond actor turns out to be a flop, the producers would need to start all over again.

However, it could also mean that excitement for the project loses momentum, and viewers will begin to lose interest. The turnaround between sequels has never been shorter in Hollywood, and attention spans are going the same way. If Bond 26 wants to capitalize off the popularity of Craig, it will have to move more quickly. New spy movies are popping up every day, and Bond needs to reassert itself as the best.

As of now, three years past the 2021 release of No Time To Die, Bond 26 is no closer to production.

9 Bond 26 Is The First Movie Since Amazon Acquired MGM

A new studio means different requirements and restrictions.

Amazon acquired a lot of major movie and TV franchises from MGM when the corporation bought out the studio. This might have been good business for Amazon, or at least increased their profits, but it means that fiercely protected IP is now at the mercy of tech executives who may not care about Bond’s history. Amazon has a vested interest in ensuring Bond 26 doesn't fail, but the company also has its own agenda. Bond has always been a commercial franchise and at the mercy of studio heads, but the integrity of the story could easily be lost.

8 Following Daniel Craig Will Be Very Difficult

He reinvented who Bond is and what he represents.

Every actor has brought their own flair to Bond, making him new through their acting choices. Connery might have played Bond for the longest, but Craig's performance is the freshest in recent memory and one of the most original. Craig's Bond was darker and more serious than those who came before. He wasn't just a womanizer who had a car full of gadgets. He was an action star. Additionally, he felt loss deeply and had ties to the world outside MI6. Bond was no longer an archetype but a fully realized character under Craig, and that's not something easily repeated.

7 Bond's Death Means Rebooting The Franchise Properly For The First Time

Craig's death has been confirmed by the actor and producers.

No new Bond movie has ever had as clean a slate as Bond 26, meaning the possibilities are endless.

No Time To Die was the first film where the Bond character died. Ian Fleming, the author of the Bond book series, had a rule that it was physically impossible for the spy to die. However, Craig's last film changed that and shut the book on his character forever. No new Bond movie has ever had as clean a slate as Bond 26, meaning the possibilities are endless. The problem with endless possibilities is that they don't indicate a clear path forward. It's time for an all-new James Bond, but there are no clues as to what that looks like.

6 No One Can Agree On What 2020s Bond Should Be

A dark, serious take like Craig, or a throwback, campy style like the originals.

There are plenty of things no James Bond fan can agree on, and the style and tone of Bond 26 are some of the biggest. Craig's darker Bond was a dramatic shift from the comedy and outlandish plotlines of earlier movies. There's no question that Bond is fiction, but Craig's stories felt as if they could be happening somewhere. However, not everyone was a fan of this deviation and would prefer a return to the lighter feel in the next story. Whichever side the film takes will be polarizing, no matter what.

5 The Search For The Next Director Hasn't Been Narrowed Down

It's definitely not going to be Christopher Nolan.

It's great Christopher Nolan won't direct Bond 26 because he and the franchise weren't right for each other. Unfortunately, he was the front-runner for a long time, so the question of who will helm the next movie is as unknown as who will play Bond himself. Whoever is chosen probably won't direct all the Bond films, but they will set the tone for those that follow. Additionally, they will have a big impact on how the next era is perceived. If Bond 26 waits too long to court a director, those up to the challenge might not be available.

4 No Actors From Craig's Era Have Been Officially Asked Back

It's not unheard of for ing characters to cross between Bond eras.

If every actor is brand new, both the characters and performances must be iconic.

The last several Bond films introduced many compelling new characters, as well as Bond's daughter Mathilde (Lisa-Dorah Sonnet), who's still out there somewhere. Bringing in an entirely new cast might be where Bond 26 is headed, as Craig's death opened the door to creating the next Bond universe from scratch. However, as Craig's era was so popular, a little familiarity could go a long way since there's already going to be so much change. If every actor is brand new, both the characters and performances must be iconic.

3 Bond 26 Must Continue The Trend Of Strong Female Characters

Now that the character of 007 has been confirmed to be a man.

The trope of the "Bond girl" must be brought into a new era, following the example of No Time To Die and Craig's later Bond films of incorporating female characters that exist for more than Bond's personal development. Producers have reiterated that 007 will be played by a man in Bond 26, and that's completely fine as long as the women around him are just as well-developed and have as much agency. Additionally, viewers today are not interested in watching movies that don't represent the diversity of the modern world.

2 It Might Be Hard To Capture The Attention Of Younger Audiences

The name Bond doesn't have as much power as it once did.

Bond is an iconic universe with plenty of name recognition. However, it's not as relevant to younger audiences who missed the window of becoming attached to Craig's iteration. Additionally, Bond's ties to Old Hollywood's issues of sexism, racism, and outdated gender roles run deep, which is a source of contention for up-and-coming generations. The people that Bond 26 needs to win over are concerned with political activism and movies with something deeper to say. Bond 26 must live up to these expectations if it's going to stick around.

The people that Bond 26 needs to win over are concerned with political activism and movies with something deeper to say.

1 There Are More Spy Movies And TV Shows Than Ever Before

That subverts the tropes of the James Bond Franchise.

The spy genre has been a beloved part of film and TV for many years, and Bond 26 can't just be the next in a long line of espionage thrillers that rewrite the same old tropes. What has always made Bond stand apart from the other offerings is its history and commitment to legacy while growing with the changing times. However, when the market is saturated with plenty of content that's easy to consume, movies must work hard to stand out. If the next Bond can subvert expectations well enough, it could blow audiences away.