Search for a new Agent 007 has begun: castings for the role of James Bond have started. Who are considered the favorites?

Daniel Craig played the role of James Bond in five films over 15 years. Photo: Mike Marsland/Getty Images for Omega

After many years of waiting and discussions about who will replace Daniel Craig as Agent 007, casting for the role of the new James Bond has officially begun, writes the BBC.

"The search for a new James Bond has already begun," states Amazon MGM Studios.

According to Hollywood publication Variety, castings have been ongoing for several weeks, and the published statement effectively marks the beginning of the end of the long wait for a new James Bond.

"While we don't plan to disclose details during the casting phase, we eagerly await the opportunity to share news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right," Amazon added.

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Callum Turner is actively being tipped for the role of the new Agent 007. Tristan Fewings/Getty Images

Five years have passed since the release of "No Time to Die" — the last film with Craig as the famous spy. And 15 months have passed since Amazon MGM Studios acquired the rights to the Bond franchise.

The studio has already announced that the new film will be directed by "Dune" director Denis Villeneuve, and the script will be written by "Peaky Blinders" creator Steven Knight.

Variety writes that the search for the new lead actor is being handled by Nina Gold, one of Hollywood's leading casting directors, who has worked on franchises such as "Paddington," "Star Wars," "Jurassic Park," and "Mamma Mia!".

Who might be among the contenders for the role of James Bond?

Currently, the bookmakers' favorites are:

• Callum Turner — a 36-year-old actor, currently the main favorite of the bookmakers. He starred in the series
• of films "Fantastic Beasts," was nominated for a BAFTA award for his role in the TV series "The Capture," and played the lead role in the Apple TV series "Masters of the Air." He is also Dua Lipa's partner.

• Jacob Elordi — a 28-year-old Australian actor, gained fame thanks to the series "Euphoria" and the cult film "Saltburn," and this year was nominated for an Oscar for his role as the monster in the film "Frankenstein." Marina Hyde, host of "The Rest Is Entertainment," recently stated that, according to information from several reliable sources, he currently holds a "leading position" in the race for the role of Bond.

• Harris Dickinson — a 29-year-old actor who will play John Lennon in upcoming major biographical films about The Beatles. Previously, he starred in films such as "Maleficent," "The King's Man," "Where the Crawdads Sing," and "Bad Girl," and was also nominated for a BAFTA TV Award for his role in the series "A Murder at the End of the World."

• Henry Cavill — the actor who played Superman, The Witcher, and an agent in the film "Mission: Impossible" — is very popular with audiences and, by common consensus, was considered the main contender for this role when Craig got it. But is he not too old, at 43, to start a long series of films as Agent 007?

• Aaron Taylor-Johnson — a 35-year-old BAFTA nominee, known for films such as "Kick-Ass," "Kraven the Hunter," and "28 Years Later" — is a consistent contender for this role and an ideal fit for it.

• Theo James — a 41-year-old actor with his characteristic elegance, became famous thanks to the "Divergent" film series and later solidified his reputation with roles in projects such as "The Time Traveler's Wife," "The White Lotus," and "The Gentlemen."

...However, the producers might well choose someone else from the many candidates whose names have already been mentioned in connection with this role, or make an unexpected choice.

The winning actor will go down in history as the seventh official James Bond in the franchise's 64-year existence.

"Diligence and Deep Respect"

"I know you are all eagerly awaiting for us to announce who will play James Bond," said Courtney Valenti, head of film production at Amazon MGM Studios, speaking at CinemaCon last month.

"Please know that we are approaching this matter with particular diligence and deep respect. For all of us, it is a lifelong dream to present this new chapter to audiences, and we take this task responsibly," she stated.

"What I can tell you is this: by uniting one of the most beloved franchises in history with a world-class team of filmmakers... you create the foundation for something truly worthy of Bond's legacy," Valenti continued. "This film is already in preparation, and when the time comes, we will be able to tell you much more about it."

Details about other actors, the plot, or the release date of the new film, which will be the 26th official Bond film, are not yet being disclosed.

At the BAFTA TV Awards ceremony held last weekend, Knight told the BBC that work on the script "is going simply wonderfully."

"I am 1000% confident that when the film comes out, audiences will really like it," he added.

Amy Pascal and David Heyman will serve as producers for the new film.

Pascal gained fame thanks to the last three Spider-Man films with Tom Holland, while Heyman was the producer of all eight Harry Potter films.

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