Next James Bond taking shape? Fans cry 'bring back Craig' as frontrunner emerges

"Bond. James Bond."

An unruffled black tie and tuxedo no matter the crisis, a Bond car that perfectly matches his signature style, a theme song that opens with a searing guitar riff, and perhaps one of the most famous self-introductions in cinema history — all of it points to the same man: James Bond, the impeccably mannered British gentleman spy.

The next star of the 007 franchise — widely regarded as the longest-running and most successful in film history — is coming into focus. According to series producer Amy Pascal, a new James Bond to succeed Daniel Craig will be confirmed before the end of this year. It is a role that invites relentless comparison with predecessors, yet promises a spotlight like no other, and attention is now fixed on who will fill it.

Denis Villeneuve, director of "Contact" (2016), "Blade Runner 2049" (2017) and the "Dune" series, is set to helm the next 007 film, according to foreign media reports. Among those being discussed as Craig's successor are Jacob Elordi, Paul Mescal, Harris Dickinson, Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Jack Barton.

Of the names in the mix, the one generating the most buzz as the next Bond is 31-year-old Jack Barton. The British newcomer is receiving more attention than at any other point in his career, and he is widely noted as the least decorated of the leading candidates — having first come to wider notice through Yorgos Lanthimos' "Poor Things."

Ironically, his relative anonymity is part of what makes Barton a compelling frontrunner. Reports have consistently described Villeneuve as seeking an "unknown" British actor for the role, and a broader pattern of rising talents being tipped for the part has helped narrow the conversation to Barton.

In fact, the original James Bond, Sean Connery, was virtually unknown before taking the role — as were his successors George Lazenby, Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton.

A casting director, speaking recently to The Independent, said it was "absolutely essential that Bond remains a complete mystery — because that's what a spy is," adding, "We already know too much about Elordi, Turner and Dickinson, so I don't want to see them as Bond."

Even so, fan reaction to the prospect of Barton as the next James Bond has been divided. Some have gone so far as to call for Daniel Craig — whose Bond died in "No Time to Die" — to be brought back.

Others have noted that Craig himself faced a boycott campaign when he was cast, with critics arguing he looked too rough and too far from the gentlemanly ideal — a reminder that comparison with a predecessor is simply an unavoidable burden for anyone who takes the role.

Screen tests — in which actors perform in front of a camera — are expected to take place in September.

An insider told Deadline that whoever lands the role must give the impression of being "able to kill someone with their bare hands in a single move," adding, "That has to be clear from the moment they appear on screen."