James Bond Script First Draft Completed, Confirms Screenwriter Steven Knight

The anticipation for a new ‘James Bond’ movie has lingered for years, with fans dissecting every bit of casting news and studio hints since Daniel Craig stepped away from the role. Amazon MGM Studios has remained tight-lipped since acquiring the franchise, only confirming that Denis Villeneuve will direct the upcoming installment.

Much of the speculation has revolved around a single question: who will take on the iconic role of 007? Names like Jack Lowden, Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, and Harris Dickinson have surfaced, with each new comment from red carpet events scrutinized by fans eager for answers.

While the casting mystery continues, another significant development has emerged. Screenwriter Steven Knight has announced that the first draft of the script for the new Bond film is complete, marking a promising step forward for the long-awaited reboot.

In an interview with Zoe Ball on the U.K.’s Greatest Hits Radio, Knight was directly asked if he had finished the draft. Instead of a straightforward answer, he simply replied, “I’m nodding silently,” as reported by Variety.

Knight, known for creating ‘Peaky Blinders’ and writing acclaimed films like ‘Spencer’ and ‘Eastern Promises,’ described the opportunity as more than just a career milestone. He expressed that writing Bond is “more than bucket list,” feeling a sense of duty to King and country by taking on this project.

He was officially brought on to write the new Bond film after Villeneuve was hired to direct last year, with producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman overseeing the project. Tanya Lapointe is also attached as an executive producer, completing a team dedicated to reintroducing Ian Fleming’s spy for a new era under Amazon’s ownership.

This will be the 26th official Bond film and the franchise’s first since 2021’s ‘No Time to Die,’ which concluded Craig’s five-film tenure. With the studio eyeing a 2028 release, the completion of the first draft signals significant progress after years of relative silence.

Interestingly, Knight had already generated buzz earlier in the week by hinting that he might know who has been cast in the lead role. When asked if he wrote the script with a specific actor in mind, he suggested it was a bit of both, further igniting fan theories that a decision may have been made behind closed doors.

This speculation gained traction thanks to comments from Gary Oldman, who, while promoting the latest season of ‘Slow Horses,’ claimed that producers have already selected the new Bond. He expressed hope that the role would go to his co-star Jack Lowden, stating, “So my fingers are crossed for Jack,” as reported by Variety.

Amazon MGM has not confirmed Oldman’s statement, and it remains uncertain whether he was referring to Lowden specifically or simply indicating that a decision has been made. Regardless, his remarks have only fueled a rumor mill that already includes names like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Louis Partridge, and stage performer Tom Francis among those reportedly in consideration.

Adding to the intrigue, Lowden’s wife, actress Saoirse Ronan, has publicly expressed her desire to play a Bond villain, telling Empire she was “dead serious” about wanting the role. Whether this pans out remains to be seen, but the growing connections surrounding this casting process highlight how invested Hollywood insiders are in unraveling the mystery.

For now, fans will have to be content with progress on the writing front while the casting announcement remains under wraps. With a completed first draft and a director secured, the pieces are clearly coming together, even if the most significant reveal is still tightly guarded.

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