The search for the next James Bond has dragged on for years, with speculation surrounding who will replace Daniel Craig showing no signs of slowing down. Since No Time to Die closed out Craig’s tenure in 2021, the franchise has been in a holding pattern, with producers reportedly looking for a much younger actor to lead the next era of 007.
Now, that conversation has taken an unexpected turn following new comments from actor Lennie James (The Walking Dead), who weighed in on the debate while attending the BAFTA Games Awards. Speaking to Radio Times Gaming (via GamesRadar), the actor — who appears in the upcoming action-adventure video game 007 First Light (2026) as Bond’s mentor John Greenway — didn’t hesitate when asked about who could take on the iconic role next.
“He’s fantastic in our version of Bond,” James said of costar Patrick Gibson, who was cast last year as the iconic agent in the game. “I genuinely think he should be a candidate for the main role that they’re trying to find someone for.” He went even further, adding, “I’m sure he’s under consideration. The people in control would be mad not to consider him.”
Gibson plays a younger version of the spy in First Light, an origin story that follows Bond during his early days as an MI6 recruit. The game is part of a broader push to reintroduce the character to a new generation, with a younger take on 007.
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But whether that approach carries over to the big screen remains to be seen.
Reports have suggested that the next Bond will be younger, although no official casting has been announced. Names like Tom Holland and Jacob Elordi continue to circulate, but nothing has been confirmed by the studio.
The Sun reports that an insider claims the film won’t arrive until 2028, which suggests we have a long time before we find out who the new actor will be.
For now, James’ comments only add fuel to the speculation. With 007 First Light set to release on May 27, the franchise is clearly exploring new directions — and if early reactions to Gibson’s performance land the way James expects, the conversation around Bond’s future could shift sooner rather than later.
007 First Light will be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows. Its Nintendo Switch 2 release has been pushed back to an unspecified date later this year.
There’s no release date for the untitled film reboot.
Will you be playing 007 First Light? Do you think Patrick Gibson should play Bond in the next film? Let us know in the comments below!
