James Bond’s preparing for another big-screen reinvention, but Amazon MGM’s upcoming film isn’t the only major development taking place in the franchise.
Alongside the search for Daniel Craig’s successor, 007 is receiving a growing collection of new literary adventures, including another adult Bond novel from author Charlie Higson.
Related: ‘James Bond’ Franchise Expands With Official New Series, ‘Sunbreaker’
The next cinematic installment will be directed by Denis Villeneuve (the Dune films), with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight writing the screenplay. Several actors have been linked with the vacant role, including Callum Turner (Eternity), Jack Lowden (Slow Horses), Robert Pattinson (The Batman), and Nicholas Hoult (Superman, 2025), although no successor to Craig has been officially announced.
Away from the film reboot, the publishing side of the franchise has been particularly active. Recent releases have included Vaseem Khan’s The Man with the Golden Compass and Kim Sherwood’s Hurricane Room, while younger readers are also being catered for through the continued expansion of the Young Bond stories.
Now, another installment featuring the adult secret agent’s on the way, with Higson confirming he’s already writing a follow-up to his September release, King Zero.
The author discussed the project in an interview with Radio Times, revealing that his current agreement with Ian Fleming Publications covers two books.
“I’m about halfway through the follow-up,” he said. “It was a two-book deal, so I can’t sit back and enjoy doing all the publicity for the first one whilst actually thinking about the second one.”
Higson’s remained relatively quiet about the next story, although he did offer a glimpse of its international setting. “I’d say half of it is set in Italy and half of it is set in the Caribbean,” he revealed.
His latest book sees Bond investigating the murder of an agent in the Saudi desert, with the possibility of a traitor within British intelligence leading him into a much larger conspiracy. Its closing words, “James Bond will return,” now appear particularly appropriate given the author’s confirmation.
Higson has a long history with the franchise, having written five Young Bond books between 2005 and 2008, as well as the adult novella On His Majesty’s Secret Service in 2023.
His earlier work’s also returning in a new format. Big Finish Productions has now adapted SilverFin into a full-cast audio drama, with Isaac Rouse voicing the teenage Bond and Higson himself playing Michael Merriot.
The audio adaptation is part of a wider initiative to bring Higson’s Young Bond novels to life, meaning the author’s contributions to 007 will continue reaching audiences across multiple formats. There are also several other Bond projects in the works, including a new comic book series.
Which Bond project are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments!
