The name’s Bond, James Bond — Which stars could get 007’s license to kill amid Amazon shakeups, according to experts

A double-0-dilemma. 

Lately, the name’s been everywhere — Bond, James Bond. While speculation had been rampant as to who should and would play 007 after Daniel Craig made his final bow as Bond in 2021’s “No Time to Die,” the rumor mill sped up faster than an Aston Martin when news broke in late February that Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson sold a controlling stake in the franchise based on Ian Fleming’s novels to Amazon MGM Studios for a reported $1 billion. 

Then in March came word that venerated producers Amy Pascal (who helped usher in the Craig era while at Sony) and David Heyman would be stepping in and running point on the next James Bond movie. The pair wasted no time in hitting the ground running.

A little over a week later, Amazon MGM announced at CinemaCon that Pascal and Heyman were already in London “getting started” on the 26th Bond film. 

There was, however, no news about casting, or even a possible director for that matter (though the word around Hollywood is that Oscar winner Alfonso Cuarón may already be onboard). So the guessing game continues. The only thing most seem to agree on is that the actor will be British.

The name bandied about most often is Henry Cavill, the “loose second reserve choice when Daniel Craig got the role back in 2005,” as Bond commentator and pop culture author Mark O’Connell described the “Man of Steel” star, 41.