Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is reviewing the screen tests for James Bond, as the new film looks to be two years away, in 2028.
It’s been a good few days since we’ve had a James Bond report, but the news continues to flow with an announcement of the new 007 coming shortly.
The thoroughly evil Daily Mail (via Dark Horizons) has dug up some information on the final round of screen tests that were taking place at Bray Studios. Much of it is as what you’d expect, with a veil of secrecy and watermarked materials. Furthermore, the candidates weren’t getting to see any of Steven Knight’s script for the new James Bond adventure either, instead working on scenes from previous 007 movies.
A few little nuggets snuck into the report, though.
Firstly, that the people in the room were Denis Villeneueve as you’d expect, along with casting director Nina Gold. Producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman were there too, along with Steven Knight.
What happened to the footage once it was recorded? Well, off it went on a flight to Los Angeles, where it’s gone in front of the eyeballs of Mike Hopkins (the head of Amazon MGM Studios) and Jeff Bezos. Bezos, by the sounds of it, is not being hands off here, and it’s assumed that this all somewhere along the line needs a nod from him.
The report adds that the plan now is targeting a release in November 2028, which makes sense. That means filming would be getting underway in the spring, once Denis Villenueve is done with the assumed awards season duties he’ll be carrying out for the incoming Dune Part III.
Again, none of this has been officially confirmed, but the increase of rumours over the last week or two is telling its own story. More on James Bond as we hear it, with the expected announcement likely this side of Christmas.