Bond 26 Is The Most Unpredictable James Bond Movie Ever Because Of 3 Huge Factors

Warning: This article contains spoilers for No Time to DieThree years after the last entry in the James Bond franchise, hardly anything is known about the upcoming Bond 26, which makes it the most nerve-wracking and unpredictable entry since 2006’s Casino Royale. James Bond is one of the most popular and historic franchises in the history of cinema. Since the first Bond movie, Dr. No, was released in 1962, it’s understandable that the James Bond franchise has undergone many changes over the years. However, the upcoming 26th Bond film could mark one of the biggest changes ever for the franchise.

Throughout its over 60-year history, seven actors have portrayed British spy James Bond. These James Bond actors have made up several different eras of the franchise. In the past, it has usually been when a new actor stepped into the shoes of 007 that the most noticeable changes were made to the series. Therefore, since Daniel Craig will not return as James Bond for the next film, Bond 26 is bound to be a drastically different movie than the ones that came before it.

The Death Of Daniel Craig’s 007 Puts James Bond 26 In Uncharted Territory

James Bond 26 Will Introduce A New 007

Previously, Daniel Craig played James Bond from 2006-2021. While his casting was controversial at first, Craig ended up becoming one of the most well-received Bond actors in history. However, at the end of No Time to Die, Craig’s version of James Bond died. While this was speculated before the release of No Time to Die, it was still a surprising move for the long-running series, since no previous James Bond has ever died.

Before Craig took over the role in Casino Royale, the switching of Bond actors was never really addressed throughout the series. Since Bond was previously a character who would never die, a new actor would step into his shoes and audiences would simply be asked to accept it. However, James Bond dying at the end of No Time to Die confirms that Bond 26 will feature yet another brand-new version of the character. Craig’s version of the character was quite different from the ones who came before him, so it is likely that the version of James Bond audiences meet in the 26th film will also be a different take on the iconic spy.

Bond 26 Will Be The First Movie Released Since Amazon Acquired MGM

James Bond 26 Will Mark The Start Of A New Era For The Franchise

Going back to the days of Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer was one of the most historic studios in Hollywood. In addition to franchises like Rocky and Legally Blonde, MGM produced all the James Bond movies (except for 1967’s Casino Royale). Therefore, the James Bond franchise was very much the crown jewel of MGM. However, MGM was purchased by Amazon in 2022, meaning that the next Bond film will be the first produced under Amazon’s supervision.

However, Amazon does not have full control over the next James Bond film. Amazon owns 50% of the James Bond franchise, with the other half still belonging to Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, who inherited the rights from their father. Broccoli and Wilson have the final say over all decisions made about the James Bond series and are known to be very protective over the spy franchise. Therefore, while there will probably be some changes made, they will likely ensure that Bond 26 remains somewhat faithful to the films that came before it.

The Gap Between No Time To Die & Bond 26 Could Be The Biggest Yet

It Could Still Be Years Before The Next James Bond Movie

After the release of Dr. No in 1962, new James Bond movies were coming out almost every year. However, as the years went on and as the franchise expanded, there were longer gaps between new movies. Although, even through various actor changes, the James Bond franchise has remained very consistent over the years. So far, the longest gap between James Bond movies was the six years between 1989’s License to Kill and 1995’s GoldenEye. License to Kill was Timothy Dalton’s last time playing James Bond, and GoldenEye was Pierce Brosnan’s first time playing the spy.

Since No Time to Die was released in 2021, James Bond 26 will have to come out in 2027 to match this gap. Since a new James Bond actor has not been cast yet, and it hasn’t even been suggested that the movie will film anytime soon, it seems unlikely that Bond 26 will be able to have a 2027 release date. Unless significant progress is made on the film very soon, it will most likely release in 2028 or 2029, which means that fans could be in the middle of the longest period with no James Bond. Hopefully, when James Bond 26 is released, it will live up to fans’ high expectations.