James Bond Producer Drops Major Clues About Next 007

The hunt for the next James Bond is officially heating up! With Daniel Craig stepping down after his legendary 15-year run and five epic films, capped off with 2021’s No Time to Die, speculation about who will don the iconic tux next has been running wild. Now, Barbara Broccoli, the power player producer behind the 007 franchise, is finally spilling some tea.

In a recent chat with the Associated Press, Broccoli laid down some essential criteria for the next leading man. “It’s a big decision,” she admitted, hinting at the weight that comes with choosing the new face of one of cinema’s most beloved characters. One thing’s for sure, though: the next Bond will “definitely be a man.”

But before fans jump to conclusions, Broccoli added a twist. “He’ll likely be in his 30s,” she said, opening the field for younger, fresher faces. And as for the longstanding tradition of Bond being white? “Whiteness is not a given,” she noted, signaling that the franchise might be moving toward a more inclusive era.

While Broccoli acknowledged that casting a new Bond comes with inevitable backlash, she seemed ready for whatever the critics throw her way. “Every time we cast a new actor, the films change. It’s the excitement of a new Bond, a new direction,” she explained. “Every one of these people who took on the role offered something new and different.”

The Bond rumor mill has been in overdrive, with oddsmakers already naming their top picks for Craig’s successor. And even Daniel Craig himself was asked who he thinks should be the next 007, sparking even more fan speculation.