The highly anticipated next installment of the James Bond franchise is taking shape with Steven Knight, the acclaimed writer behind the hit show Peaky Blinders, signed on to pen the screenplay. Knight, a 65-year-old Brummie, has promised to make the new film “better, stronger and bolder,” easing fears that Amazon’s $1 billion acquisition of the franchise in February would diminish its British identity. 007 expert Matthew Field affirmed that Amazon’s choice of Knight, a distinguished British writer with over 25 years of experience in film and TV, ensures the preservation of Bond’s crucial British heritage. This role fulfills a long-standing ambition for Knight, who also created SAS: Rogue Heroes and co-created the global phenomenon Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?.

Knight’s background is rich with creative inspiration; Peaky Blinders, set in 1920s Small Heath, was inspired by his father’s gangster uncles and his mother’s work as a bookie’s runner. The BBC drama, which ran for six successful series from 2013 to 2022, significantly boosted tourism to Birmingham and saw its final season become the most streamed series on BBC iPlayer. His inventive mind also birthed Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? from an initial concept of an unlimited prize game, which was eventually capped at a million pounds for insurance reasons. The game show’s immense success, reaching 19.2 million viewers per episode and adapted in over 100 countries, gave Knight the freedom to pursue his desired writing projects. Knight, who received a CBE for services to drama and the Birmingham community, celebrated in “Tommy Shelby-style” and co-directed the industrial revolution-inspired opening ceremony for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. He hopes his long-standing admiration for Bond will allow him to produce something familiar yet innovative.

Amidst the excitement for a new writer, speculation continues to swirl regarding who will take over the iconic 007 role from Daniel Craig. Several actors have been linked to the part, with varying degrees of enthusiasm and suitability.

British actor Mike Dickman, 40, has emerged as a surprise front-runner, admitting he is “flattered” by the linkage. Dickman, who transitioned from a corporate career in sports to acting, has rapidly built an impressive portfolio, including a cameo in Barbie, a supporting role in the upcoming psychological thriller Secrets (released on Amazon on August 19), and a prominent role in the series Gandhi, which will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Bookmakers have listed him alongside established names like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Tom Hardy, and Henry Cavill. Dickman views the casting process as a “rebirth of an incredible franchise” and emphasizes the collaborative nature of film production. In Gandhi, he plays racist Captain Harry Sparks, a role for which he impressed producers with his ability to capture the Akrikaans accent. His upcoming projects also include an adaptation of William Corlett’s novel, Now and Then, by Matt Western. Dickman is in a relationship with Heather Mills.

Another strong contender for the 007 role is James Nelson-Joyce, 36, who is currently engaged to jazz singer and actress Olivia Frances Brown. Nelson-Joyce, known for his roles as James 'Yatesy' Yates in the BBC drama Little Boy Blue and Liverpudlian crime boss Michael Kavanaugh in This City is Ours, has jokingly expressed interest in the role, referring to himself as “double-O Scouse.” He and Olivia, both from Liverpool and based in Manchester, shared their engagement news on Instagram, receiving an outpouring of congratulations.

Conversely, some actors have removed themselves from consideration. Glen Powell, star of Top Gun 2 and Anyone But You, has firmly stated he is “not the right person” for the role. As a Texan, Powell believes an “authentic Brit” belongs in the Bond tuxedo, reinforcing the tradition of a white male actor from the UK or Ireland portraying the spy. This stance plays into the ongoing debate about whether the franchise should deviate from its 63-year tradition, with previous discussions including the possibility of a female Bond like Gillian Anderson or a Black Bond like Idris Elba. Other actors, such as Theo James, have also ruled themselves out, fearing that playing such an iconic character could define their career permanently.

Even a former Bond, Pierce Brosnan, 72, expressed a willingness to return “in a heartbeat” if next 007 director Denis Villeneuve, along with producers David Heyman (Harry Potter) and Amy Pascal (Spider-Man), had a vision for a “craggy, 72-year-old Bond.” Brosnan, who played Bond from 1995 to 2002 in four films (GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day), acknowledged the many great candidates currently being considered but did not rule out the possibility of a humorous, prosthetic-enhanced return.