The next James Bond movie has reached a major development milestone, with screenwriter Steven Knight confirming that the first draft of the script is complete. The update comes as attention surrounding the franchise increasingly focuses on the mystery of who will replace Daniel Craig as 007.
Knight is writing the 26th Bond movie for Amazon MGM Studios, with Denis Villeneuve attached to direct. Speaking to Zoe Ball on Greatest Hits Radio, Knight was asked whether he had completed his draft and responded by silently nodding, effectively confirming that the screenplay has reached its first major stage.
Steven Knight Says Writing Bond Is an Honor
Knight has previously described taking on James Bond as a career-defining opportunity. Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, he called the assignment
“more than bucket list”
and said he felt he was
“doing my duty for King and country by taking this thing on.”
He also made clear that he is enjoying the responsibility and has high expectations for the finished movie.
“I’m absolutely loving doing it,”
Knight said.
“It’s an honor to be asked. And believe it’s going to be so good. I really do believe it’s going to be amazing.”
The screenwriter is best known for creating Peaky Blinders and has also worked on projects including A Thousand Blows and House of Guinness.
The script update is particularly significant because Bond fans have been heavily focused on the franchise’s next lead actor. Knight recently suggested that the casting process may already have progressed further than publicly acknowledged when he discussed whether he was writing the new 007 with a specific performer in mind.
“It’s a bit of both,”
Knight told BBC Radio 4’s Today when asked about the subject. He explained that knowing the actor can make writing easier, while stressing that “you have to write the character, not the actor.”
The comments follow claims from Gary Oldman that the new Bond actor has already been selected. During an interview with The Morning Show, Oldman said the decision had been made but had not yet been publicly announced, while expressing his hope that his Slow Horses co-star Jack Lowden would receive the role.
With the first draft now complete, the next Bond movie has moved another step closer to production. However, Amazon MGM Studios has yet to officially reveal who will become the next James Bond or announce a release date for Villeneuve’s reboot.
