Scottish actor and producer; Oscar winner; global Bond icon
Edinburgh’s Princes Street remains partly closed after a blaze, but authorities are pushing ahead with stabilisation work, public funding, and a plan to restore the 150-year-old Debenhams facade. Council leaders emphasise safety and momentum, while a public consultation is promised within six months.
The James Bond casting search has intensified, with frontrunners narrowing and new bets shifting as producers pace the process amid a flurry of interviews and public speculation.
Irish actress Saoirse Ronan has expressed interest in playing the next Bond villain, as odds narrow on the star of Slow Horses, Letitia Wright’s successor, to take the 007 mantle. Ronan says she is “dead serious” about a villain part, while Emilia Lowden continues to be mentioned as a frontrunner for Bond. The pair would become the first married couple to work opposite each other in a Bond film if cast.
The Bond franchise is being rebooted with a new lead actor. Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is writing the 26th film, with Amy Pascal, David Heyman, and Denis Villeneuve directing. Casting choices are being narrowed, and producers aim to maintain continuity with Fleming’s universe while introducing a refreshed icon for a new era.
Final screen tests are underway in London for the next James Bond. Actors including Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Josh O’Connor are in final contention, with stunts, camera presence and dialogue assessed. Denys Villeneuve will direct; Steven Knight writes the script. Publication window remains tight as Amazon MGM Studios and producers eye a 2028 release.