There are plenty of wild predictions floating around regarding the 26th entry in the James Bond franchise, and several of them could actually make for a much more interesting run to rival Daniel Craig’s tenure as the character. His iteration of Bond was killed at the end of No Time To Die, leaving the canvas completely blank for whichever filmmaker is given the opportunity to continue the franchise in the future. It will most likely be a complete reboot, which means that anything is possible.
The Bond franchise needs to change to survive, which means that some kind of bold story decision is the only way forward. Whether that’s regarding the casting of the character, the setting of the story, or something more meta, there are plenty of routes that Bond 26 could take in order to differentiate itself from the rest of the series. It won’t be easy to follow on from No Time To Die’s explosive conclusion, but that complete reset could actually be a good thing for this iconic character.
Bond 26 Will Be Set In The 1960s
The idea of having a modern Bond film that’s set in the 1960s is an incredibly exciting one, as it would allow the filmmakers to return to the character’s roots and create something that’s totally separate from the movies that followed. It would also be a good way to avoid the problem of Bond’s death, as this project would clearly be a prequel that comes before No Time To Die in the character’s chronology. The 1960s was the decade when Bond first appeared on-screen in Dr. No, so returning to this era would be a great way to pay homage to the history of the franchise.
Bond 26 Will Actually Address 007’s No Time To Die Death
There are two clear options for Bond 26: either the movie ignores Bond’s death in No Time To Die, or it’s addressed in the story and becomes part of the narrative. This second option would be much harder to pull off, but if it’s done right, it could make for a really exciting story. No Time To Die has hugely impacted the future of Bond, so it would almost feel cheap and easy if the next movie simply ignored this huge plot point and wrote itself around it. It has to be acknowledged for Bond 26 to actually feel like a successor rather than a spin-off.
Bond 26 Will Cast A Female James Bond
The question of who’s going to be cast as the next James Bond has already been widely discussed following Craig’s exit, and one of the most popular theories is that a female actor should be cast in the role. It would be a massive change and would undeniably shake up the foundations of the story, but it’s the kind of progressive choice that could easily be made today without too much disturbance. Having a female Bond will also bring an entirely new dimension to the character and could see her face obstacles that Craig’s Bond was unaware of.
Bond 26 Will See Bond Go Rogue
Throughout the franchise, Bond has always been loyal to MI6 and his colleagues at the agency. They’ve always been the ones to send him on missions and provide him with the equipment that he’ll need (so Bond 26 could really shake things up by showing exactly how Bond would cope on his own). Perhaps he’d find himself exiled from MI6 for something that happened before the new timeline, with the rebooted movies following his adventures as a rogue agent.
Bond 26 Will Cast An Older, Retired Bond
Several popular actors have found themselves in the conversation, but many were ultimately considered out of the running to play James Bond because they’re simply too old. However, since Bond 26 is likely to be a fresh reboot that could take place at any point in the spy’s life, it’s possible that an older Bond would actually make sense. Perhaps this new timeline will follow Bond in the later years of his life, retired from espionage and settled down when something happens to drag him back into the action. It would be a great way of making the upcoming movies feel different from what came before without rewriting the character.
Bond 26 Will See Bond Searching For Swann
The conclusion of No Time To Die saw Bond separated from Madeleine Swann briefly before his death – but if Bond 26 actually brings the character back in the same timeline, it would make sense that his biggest priority would be finding Swann again. This sets the stage for a completely different kind of Bond movie, where instead of fighting against some evil entity or bringing down his enemies, he’s following leads and trying to find his lover. Admittedly, this might not work without Craig’s involvement in the movie, since he’s the one who established the relationship with Swann.
Bond 26 Will Be A Limited Series
Streaming services have completely changed the way that audiences interact with films and television, with limited series’ becoming much more popular over the past few years. Several major franchises have already begun the transition to streaming, with the MCU and Star Wars leading the charge (so it makes sense that James Bond might want to use this perfect opportunity to join them). It would also be a great chance for whoever is cast as Bond to prove themselves as they’d have much more screen time in a limited series than in a single movie.
Bond 26 Will Be A Remake Of Another Bond Film
It’s also possible that Bond 26 could remake Dr. No instead of starting an entirely new timeline for the character. The idea comes after many fans were speculating that No Time To Die’s Safin could actually be Dr. No in disguise (the prediction turned out to be wrong, but it proved that audiences still have an interest in these classic Bond stories). As the oldest movie in the franchise, it makes sense that Dr. No would be the first to get remade.
Bond 26 Will Follow Bond’s Child In The Future
If Bond 26 actually decides to stick around in the same continuity where James Bond is dead, taking place several years in the future seems like the safest way to avoid that problem. That would mean that Bond 26 needs an entirely new protagonist, but there’s no reason that the title of 007 can’t stay in the family. With Madeleine Swann still alive at the end of No Time To Die, driving their daughter to Matera, there’s a possibility that Mathilde grows up to follow in her father’s footsteps. It would be a bold move, but it feels like the natural succession now Bond is dead.
Bond 26 Will Not Feature James Bond
Bond 26 could take an even bolder route and not follow Bond (or his family) at all. In fact, it could be an entirely unrelated spin-off that tells the story of a different character who’s previously been in the franchise. There are countless options for this: whether it’s a character who made a guest appearance like Paloma in No Time To Die or a series regular like Moneypenny or M. It would obviously be a huge departure from the Bond movies that audiences know and love, but with the old protagonist dead, it seems like a new face is the only way forward.
