The next film in the spy franchise will be directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Steven Knight

Amazon MGM Studios announced they are now officially on the hunt for the next James Bond. The film and TV studio confirmed last night that the casting search for an actor to fill Daniel Craig‘s shoes is “underway.”

“The search for the next James Bond is underway,” the studio said in a statement. “While we don’t plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we’re excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right.”

Last year, the studio announced that Denis Villeneuve would direct the next Bond film, a follow-up to 2021’s No Time to Die, Craig’s final outing as the spy. The Dune filmmaker will serve as executive producer alongside Tanya Lapointe, while Amy Pascal and David Heyman will produce the upcoming project.

“I’m a die-hard Bond fan,” Villeneuve said when the announcement was made. “To me, he’s sacred territory. I intend to honor the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come. This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honor. Amy, David, and I are absolutely thrilled to bring him back to the screen. Thank you to Amazon MGM Studios for their trust.”

The film is being written by Steven Knight, best known as the creator of Peaky Blinders. The writer hasn’t teased much about his approach, but he told Radio Times earlier this year, “Obviously with Bond, what you’re dealing with is now a character of folklore, really. It’s like Robin Hood or King Arthur, in the context of the culture of this country and beyond. And so you’ve got to treat it with respect.”

A lot of names have been thrown around as a possible next onscreen James Bond. Henry Cavill, Aaron Taylor Johnson, and Idris Elba have all been rumored casting in the past, while Tom Holland, Jacob Elordi, and Callum Turner are among the more recent names discussed in the media. Last year, Holland acknowledged the “speculation,” noting, “We’ll keep it to a minimum for now.”