Amazon is getting closer to finding the next James Bond, as director Denis Villeneuve has reportedly begun informing actors of the next step in the audition process.

According to Deadline, Villeneuve has been personally calling actors who have auditioned for James Bond and informing them that they will have a second round of auditions in August. The casting process officially began this spring, and it seems the producers are moving rather quickly to narrow down the search. Deadline reports that its sources have somewhat contradictory information, but the number of candidates has been narrowed to anywhere between five and seven, and up to the teens. Essentially, it sounds like there's fewer than 20 people who are in contention for the role.

It's unclear which actors have been called back, but Deadline notes that Harris Dickinson, Callum Turner, and Jacob Elordi "fit the prototype" of what producers are looking for in the next Bond. It's currently unknown whether those actors have auditioned or are actively pursuing the role. The report also states that, while it may be some time before we get definitive casting for Bond, Amazon is on track to announce the star by the end of the year, with plans to shoot in 2027.

As of right now, nothing is known about the next Bond movie beyond the fact that it will be directed by Villeneuve, written by Steven Knight, and it will be the first 007 movie under Amazon's leadership. It also seems like Amazon wants a slightly younger Bond, not unlike the one we saw in 007 First Light.

Following the release of Spectre, former Bond actor Daniel Craig said he would rather "slash" his wrists than return to 007. The actor later clarified that he made those comments partially because he was in the middle of recovery from an injury on the film.

"To be completely honest, I was thinking, 'I don't know if I can do another one of these,'" the actor said in 2021. "I finished filming Spectre with a broken leg. To your point about being in my fifties now, I thought, 'Do I have this in me? Do I want to go through all of this?' I needed a break. A little more skill in the answer might have been better. I was joking but it came across as ungrateful."

There's currently no release date for Bond 26, but presumably, it will debut in 2028 as long as everything goes smoothly.

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Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN's news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.