The First Draft of Steven Knight’s James Bond Screenplay is For His Eyes Only!
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Phil Roberts 
Steven Knight’s James Bond Script is officially done and in the hands of MI6 and the director Denis Villeneuve.
It’s been a minute since we heard fresh details about Amazon MGM’s big James Bond rebrand. Aside from some juicy casting rumors and confirmation that Denis Villeneuve will direct, details about 007’s next adventure have remained locked away in the Amazon MGM vault. But today, Steven Knight, the legendary screenwriter charged with penning Bond’s next chapter, has teased some intriguing news.
During an appearance on the UK’s Greatest Hits Radio, presenter Zoe Ball asked Knight whether he had completed a draft of the script. The screenwriter cheekily replied, “I’m nodding silently.” But that wasn’t all. When asked whether he had written the script with a specific actor in mind, Knight responded, “It’s a bit of both. It does make life a little bit easier if you know who that person is, but also you have to write the character, not the actor.”
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY…
So, has our next James Bond already been selected? Knight’s comments certainly suggest that he may have had a specific actor in mind while developing at least part of the screenplay. Whether that means Amazon MGM has already made its choice remains to be seen, but the rumor mill is working overtime.
The smart money is currently on either Jacob Elordi, Jack Lowden, or Callum Turner. And if Gary Oldman is to be believed, we may not have to wait much longer to discover who will inherit Ian Fleming’s legendary spy.
Recently, Oldman hinted that Bond had been cast and expressed his hope that his Slow Horses co-star, Jack Lowden, had landed the coveted role.
“It’s been rumored that Jack Lowden is on the shortlist…we’re going to find out pretty soon, aren’t we? Because they have picked him. They have made their choice, but they have not announced it yet. So my fingers are crossed for Jack.”
Now, that’s one hell of a tease!
A VIEW TO A KILL
This is exciting news. I cannot wait to see what Knight brings to the table, but he faces a significant challenge in winning over Bond fans. Many are understandably disillusioned with Amazon’s acquisition of creative control over the character from Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. However, with Villeneuve in the driving seat and Knight handling the screenplay, the project has two seriously impressive names attached to it.
Of course, the casting announcement will be the real test. Until our next Bond is officially revealed, the project will have its skeptics. But with a brilliant director, an excellent screenwriter, and Amazon MGM’s considerable resources behind it, I’d say the film is moving in the right direction.
Come in, 007, your vacation is over!
Now, the million-dollar question: Who would you cast as 007? Share your top picks in the comments below!
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
