Daniel Craig’s James Bond films have been a hit on Netflix, showing there’s still strong interest in the series. That makes the wait for the next Bond movie, Bond 26, especially frustrating. It’s already been longer than ever between films – the gap since 2021’s No Time To Die is the longest in the history of the James Bond franchise.
James Bond has never been absent from the screen for so long, and the surprising ending of No Time To Die created huge expectations for his comeback. For years, the Bond films simply recast the actor playing Bond without addressing it in the story. But No Time To Die broke that pattern by killing off Daniel Craig’s version of the character.
The next James Bond film will likely tackle the long-standing question of whether ‘James Bond’ is just a code name used by different agents over time. This could allow the filmmakers to explore many fan theories, including what happens to these agents after their service – can they retire, or are they always killed in the line of duty?
Daniel Craig’s James Bond Movies Are Massive Netflix Hits
Everett
It was always going to be challenging to discuss the future of the James Bond franchise, but recent events haven’t helped. Years after the release of No Time To Die in October 2021, there’s been no real movement on Bond 26, and a new actor to play 007 hasn’t even been chosen yet.
Even as of January 2026, it’s still unknown who will be the next James Bond in the upcoming film, Bond 26. Some previously favored actors like Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, and Henry Cavill may no longer be a good fit, and the search for a fresh face to play the iconic spy has been ongoing for years.
Craig’s last two James Bond films, No Time To Die and Spectre (from 2015), are currently very popular on Netflix. This suggests audiences are still interested in Bond movies, but the series isn’t currently producing new installments.
As a lifelong Bond fan, I was pretty shocked to hear that Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson – the producers who’ve shaped the series for so long – were leaving after Amazon bought the franchise. It felt like a huge shift. Since that announcement early last year, things have been quiet, but then came the exciting news in June that Dennis Villeneuve – yes, the director of Dune! – is taking on the next Bond film. That definitely got everyone talking again!
Netflix’s James Bond Success Proves Viewers Want More From the Franchise
Denis Villeneuve is one of the most talented directors making big-budget films right now, so the announcement that he’s directing the next James Bond movie, number 26, should thrill fans. However, because it’s been so long since the last film, even longtime fans are starting to lose some of their excitement.
It’s been a while since the last James Bond film in 2021, so the next one really needs to be exceptional to justify the long wait. The lack of any news about when filming will start is also concerning, even though big movies can sometimes come together quickly – that’s not usually how it happens.
The new Jurassic World film, Rebirth, was announced in January 2024 and released in June 2025 – a remarkably quick process. This speed is something the James Bond franchise would likely struggle to match. The last Bond film, No Time To Die, took two years to release after filming finished, due to numerous delays.
Bond 26’s Biggest Problem Isn’t Recasting 007
Amazon and director Denis Villeneuve face a major challenge with the James Bond franchise that simply won’t be fixed by finding a new actor to play 007. The success of the next Bond film, Bond 26, hinges on the overall tone, and the filmmakers are in a difficult situation: changing the tone too much could alienate fans, but sticking with the old tone might not be enough to revitalize the series.
The big debate surrounding the next James Bond film, Bond 26, is whether it should recapture the lighthearted, over-the-top style of previous films starring Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan, or take a more serious, realistic, and intense approach. Unfortunately, both options present significant challenges.
Both the 2024 film Argylle and the 2015 movie The Man from U.N.C.L.E were big-budget spy films that tried to offer a more playful and humorous take on the genre.
Both films belonged to the same genre and were major box office failures, performing very poorly when they were first released. However, spy thrillers that feel realistic and focus on intense situations generally do much better financially.
Hiring director Denis Villeneuve for the next James Bond film, Bond 26, suggests a very serious approach, as his films are generally known for being intense rather than funny. While a more realistic and gritty style could be a good change, it also risks making Bond 26 feel too similar to the recent films starring Daniel Craig, potentially making the franchise feel stale and repetitive.
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2026-01-26 22:31