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MGM executive Pamela Abdy has revealed that the James Bond team have had \u201cvery early\u201d conversations about who\u2019ll become the next 007.<\/p>\n
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter<\/a>, Abdy \u2013 who works for Bond production company MGM \u2013 said that discussions over Daniel Craig\u2019s replacement have already begun.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s wide open,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019ve had very early preliminary conversations with Barbara [Broccoli] and Michael [Wilson], but we wanted Daniel to have his last hurrah.\u201d<\/p>\n Bond producer Barbara Broccoli, who runs Eon Productions, said back in September that casting talks for the next film wouldn\u2019t begin until 2022<\/a>, telling BBC Radio 4: \u201cWe want Daniel to have his time of celebration. Next year we\u2019ll start thinking about the future.\u201d<\/p> Craig, who starred as James Bond for 15 years, made his last appearance as the spy in No Time to Die<\/a>, the 25th film in the 007 franchise.<\/p>\n The Knives Out<\/a> star became the sixth actor to portray Ian Fleming\u2019s seminal character when he made his Bond debut in 2006\u2019s Casino Royale.<\/p>\n Now that Craig has officially retired as Bond, speculation as to who\u2019ll take on the role next is rife among fans, who\u2019ve tipped the likes of Venom<\/a>\u2018s Tom Hardy, Bridgerton<\/a> star Reg\u00e9-Jean Page, The Suicide Squad<\/a>\u2018s Idris Elba and Eternals<\/a>\u2018 Richard Madden to be the next 007.<\/p>\n Last year, RadioTimes.com<\/a> readers voted Sam Heughan as their top choice as Bond<\/a>, with the Outlander star revealing that he\u2019d tried out for the role back in 2005 and \u201cwould be delighted\u201d if asked to audition again.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve already seen No Time To Die, you might want to check out our James Bond ending explainer<\/a> \u2013 but beware of spoilers if not!<\/strong><\/p>\n