James Bond has spent more than 60 years saving the world on the big screen, but audiences have never truly seen how the legendary MI6 agent became 007.
Now, Amazon MGM Studios has a rare opportunity to completely redefine the franchise with its upcoming James Bond reboot — and that could mean introducing multiple actors to play the iconic spy throughout different stages of his life.
Casting details for the new Bond movie remain almost entirely unknown, although the search for Daniel Craig's replacement is reportedly underway, with Nina Gold said to be leading the hunt.
Several actors have been linked to the role over the past year; however, reports suggest Amazon MGM is looking for an unknown British actor in his late 20s or early 30s, meaning many of the biggest names previously connected to the role may not be realistic options.
What happens next remains to be seen, but whoever replaces Daniel Craig will become the seventh actor to officially portray James Bond in the film franchise, following Sean Connery, Roger Moore, George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Craig.
Related: ‘James Bond' Reboot Casts ‘The Crown' Actor as the New 007 in Upcoming Reboot
James Bond 26 Could Feature Multiple 007s
Rather than simply introducing another established version of Bond, Amazon MGM could instead explore the character's journey from childhood to becoming the world's most famous fictional spy.
While Casino Royale (2006) explored Bond earning his 00 status, it still introduced audiences to an already highly capable agent. The franchise has never shown his earliest years, his education, his recruitment into MI6, or the events that shaped him before becoming 007.
A Bond movie that follows his entire journey would require multiple actors, with one portraying a younger Bond before another eventually takes over as the experienced secret agent fans know today. That would make Amazon MGM's reboot less like a traditional spy thriller and more like a Bond biopic.
Interestingly, the wider franchise is already exploring different versions of Bond. IO Interactive's video game 007 First Light stars Patrick Gibson as a young Royal Navy air crewman recruited into MI6's Double O program, while Charlie Higson's Young Bond novel SilverFin is being adapted into an audio dramatization featuring Isaac Rouse as a teenage Bond during his time at Eton.
Whether Amazon MGM takes inspiration from those projects remains unknown, but the reboot gives the studio an opportunity unlike any previous Bond movie.
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