Hello Mr. Bond, we’ve been expecting you… for five years! 007 fans ‘could face half a DECADE wait to see another film featuring British secret agent

James Bond fans are reportedly set to wait half a decade to see another 007 flick return to their screens.

The five-year delay is reportedly caused by ‘delays to production and casting’ as the next spy is still yet to be confirmed. 

A year following Daniel Craig’s final No Time To Die release in September 2021, producer Barbara Broccoli said that there was a year wait before filming the next flick. 

But, to the unhappiness of 007 fans, it is likely to be much longer as filming has still not been started. 

In June, 2022, Barbara said: ‘There isn’t a script and we can’t come up with one until we decide how we’re going to approach the next film because, really, it’s a reinvention of Bond. 

‘We’re reinventing who he is, and that takes time. I’d say that filming is at least two years away.’

And that foresighted deadline has now passed and not only has filming not started, but the leading man has still not been cast.

One film insider told the Mirror: ‘The best case scenario is a new Bond film in cinemas by the end of 2026 – which is five years after No Time To Die – and that’s if things get shaken up soon,’ 

While another source told the publication that there were rumours of problems with scripts and delays.  

It comes after reports that Sir Steve McQueen is possibly up for a new role involving the iconic spy legend that is James Bond. 

The 12 Years A Slave director, 55, has reportedly sparked an interest among the 007  bosses, according to the Sun. 

Given his stellar reputation in the movie-making business, producers are said to be hoping he will share some of his production talents in any upcoming films. 

A source told the production: ‘ ‘Steve is one of the UK’s best filmmakers and has an incredible vision.

‘The word is that the Bond producers wanted to see if Steve would ever consider having a hand in one of the films and they got a positive response. 

‘It would be incredible if it came off.’ 

It is also believed that casting for the new 007, who was last played by Daniel Craig, has also restarted. 

But who will fulfil this role is still undecided and in recent months has caused quite the controversy among stars. 

One A-lister who was bombarded with rumours was Edris Elba who had shut down rumours of him fulfilling the role earlier this year. 

The Luther actor, 51, revealed that he will not be following in Daniel Craig‘s shoes in the coming 007 hit and is not getting a license a kill.

He admitted that he is ‘ancient’ and while he appreciated the compliment of being considered back in 2009, the opportunity is now ‘dead’.

Speaking to Chris Moyles on his Radio X morning show in April, Idris joked that the longstanding rumours surrounding the agent role have made him ‘more famous for not playing Bond’ than ‘some of the actors who did’.

Chris quipped: ‘There were loads of rumours flying around a few years ago about you and a certain infamous role of a British agent, right? James Bond. Right? Was that ever a thing? Was that ever close to being a thing? Did you ever want it? There were rumours, but I don’t know if you ever spoke out about it one way or the other.’

Idris replied: ‘I have several times, several sort of half-a-million times. No, it was definitely one of the biggest rumours. 

‘I’m arguably more famous for not playing Bond than some of the actors who did!

‘And you know, it’s been one that I’ve taken lightly at times. You know, everyone loves Bond. Such a fantastic character, and just to me, I found it as a compliment to be considered all those years ago.’

Chris persisted: ‘But listen, you never know. It’s not dead’, but he was shot down by the acting sensation who responded: ‘Well, I mean yeah, it is. The rumour has definitely done. 

‘And I mean, I’m ancient now. I don’t know what kind of Bond I’d be.’

The radio host replied: ‘But there’s always… Yeah, you’re probably right, actually.’

Not giving up on the thought of Idris getting involved in the highly-anticipated motion picture, Chris added: ‘Well, what about Bond villains? Bond villain?’

Idris said: ‘Well, I think probably, if I’m really honest, I did the Luther movie. And my instinct about doing the movie version verses the TV, is to take it bigger. Bigger, bigger landscapes and maybe fill that void.’

It followed chatter over who will be the next man to take on the iconic role.

It was recently believed that Aaron Taylor-Johnson could be getting himself a license to kill in four James Bond films after ‘endless discussions’ with studio execs – who insiders claim are hoping he can replace Daniel Craig to lead the franchise into a new age with a ‘fantasy’ twist.

The British actor, 33, has reportedly been formally offered the chance to play 007, with sources claiming bosses have already taken extraordinary lengths to secure him.

Producer Barbara Broccoli, 63, is not considering anyone else, according to insiders, who have claimed costume fittings for Aaron are already allegedly underway.

‘It is all in the details and agents and lawyers are going through all the red tape and how many movies Aaron will sign up for.

‘It is currently looking to be a three-picture deal with the option of a fourth.

‘They have done all the fittings, they have the haircut they have in mind for him, and he’s already in tremendous shape.

‘Barbara Broccoli and the rest of the producers are going to make a huge deal out of the announcement.’

Earlier this year, it was reported that the Kick Ass actor is on the verge of inking a deal to take over from Daniel as the titular spy after he retired from the role following his swansong in 2021 blockbuster No Time To Die.

Aaron was coy when questioned previously about the rumors, telling Numero magazine earlier this month: ‘I find it charming and wonderful that people see me in that role. I take it as a great compliment.’ 

A recent poll suggested Idris  is still the public’s number one choice to replace Daniel, despite being 51 – old for a Bond candidate – and already ruling himself out of the running in order to focus on his crime drama, Luther. 

Back in August 2022, it was reported he had walked away from ‘years of talks’ with movie bosses to take over the famous role.

Last summer, Idris admitted that he used to be ‘super complimented’ by the idea of playing Bond, saying it was the ‘pinnacle.’

But he told Variety that he was turned off, when ‘those that weren’t happy about the idea made the whole thing disgusting and off-putting, because it became about race. It became about nonsense and I got the brunt of it.’

Meanwhile, Michael Fassbender has also ruled himself out, saying he thought a younger star should take on the role.

When asked by GQ magazine if he would be up for the part, the actor, 46, said: ‘To be honest, no.’

Aaron is yet to officially accept the role or make a formal comment on his standing but in March he spoke out in an interview with Rolling Stone UK , insisting he won’t be a part of the ‘pop culture studio film’ machine 

In a cover shoot to promote his latest role in Sony’s next Marvel film Kraven the Hunter, Aaron muses on the direction his stellar career is heading after two decades on the big screen.

Asked directly about the reports that he is in talks to be Bond, the actor coyly replied that he ‘can only really talk about the things I’m going to show and tell,’ before tellingly adding: 

‘I don’t feel like I need to have a future drawn out for me. I feel like, whatever’s drawn out for me, I can f**kin’ do better.’ 

While he hasn’t been cast as Bond, Aaron has taken on the lead in another big budget action franchise. 

But the actor insists he can find the nuances in any character, even in Kraven – a big-game hunter whose singular goal in life is to beat Spider-Man.

‘I think there was something unique about this character, and something grounded,’ he insists, adding: ‘We’ve all had enough of seeing certain studio films, a certain kind of pop culture… where they’re churning out stuff that dilutes wanting to go to the cinema’.

‘I wouldn’t have signed onto it if I felt there wasn’t something to really bring to life with this character.’ 

The star adds that the extreme physical transformation he undertook to play the Marvel villain made him ponder if he wanted to put himself through it for film after film, explaining: ‘I wanted to approach it like an actor, and I’m not someone who’s just juicing up and going to the gym.’

‘I don’t necessarily want this to be my brand, doing one action movie after another. But I trained to the point where I was 200 pounds of muscle. I ate so much f**king food. I was so big.’

James Bond producers have still not made a formal announcement to confirm who will be the next 007.