Since 1962, six actors have officially starred as James Bond on the big screen.
And now, two decades after Daniel Craig bagged the role, the 007 producers are hunting for the next actor to take up the Licence to Kill.
That decision will be made by EON Productions producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson, who inherited the Bond film franchise from their father, Cubby Broccoli.
Amazon MGM may own 50 per cent of the stakes, but so do the step-siblings, who also retain creative control.
The pair have since given an update on the next Bond future, ahead of receiving an honorary Oscar together at the 15th Governors Awards in Hollywood this Sunday.
Speaking with the Associated Press, Broccoli said: “People are playing it very safe. I think in times of crisis like this, you’ve got to be brave. It’s certainly a new era in the movie business, so we’re trying to figure it out.”
When asked about when the next Bond would be announced, she teased, “It’s a big decision.” However, the pair did share the criteria for their secret 007 auditions, which are rumoured to have included bookies’ favourite Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
The Bond producers confirmed that the next Bond will be played by a man and he’ll likely be an actor in his thirties. Meanwhile, they are open to the next 007 being played by a male of any racial ethnicity.
They also clarified that whoever they choose will be expected to star in at least a decade’s worth of films. This isn’t surprising, given that the rights to Ian Fleming’s books are set to enter the public domain.
Broccoli said: “Every time we cast a new actor, the films change. It’s the excitement of a new Bond, a new direction.” And Wilson added: “Every one of these people who took on the role offered something new and different.”