Rory Kinnear says the next James Bond film may bring back some James Bond actors from the Daniel Craig era, even though he has not heard anything about the new iteration. His view points to a franchise that may keep a thread of continuity while moving into a different approach.
Rory Kinnear and Bill Tanner
Kinnear played Bill Tanner in Quantum of Solace in 2008 and again through No Time to Die in 2021, giving him one of the longest supporting runs in the Craig cycle. He said he would return if he got the call, which keeps him in the conversation as the search for the next James Bond reaches its final stages.
“That’s the exciting thing – I’m sure they’ll want to hold on to some continuity, what it means to people,” he said. “But there’ll be a whole different approach.” That is the practical tension for the next film: new lead, but not necessarily a total reset in the supporting bench.
Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris
Ben Whishaw has played Q since Daniel Craig’s casting in Casino Royale in 2006, and Naomie Harris has played Miss Moneypenny since the same film. Their long service shows how the modern Bond cycle has already treated some roles as durable parts of the franchise rather than one-off casting moves.
Ralph Fiennes took over as M after the death of Dame Judi Dench’s M in Skyfall, another reminder that the series has mixed continuity with replacement before. If the new film follows that pattern, it could preserve a few familiar functions while still changing the center of gravity around Bond himself.
Amazon and the final stage
The search for the next James Bond is in its final stages, and the film is reportedly being spearheaded by Amazon. Casting speculation has already centered on younger British actors, while reports said Denis Villeneuve was looking for an unknown Brit, possibly in his late twenties or early thirties, to play 007.
Kinnear’s comments cut against the louder rumors in one useful way: they suggest that the debate is not only about who plays Bond, but which older roles survive the handover. He also said, “Thirteen years ago, The Telegraph announced me as the new Doctor Who – I don’t know where that came from,” and added, “It does tend to be people who aren’t being talked about.”
Debbie McWilliams has argued that Bond must remain a total enigma, saying, “We want to know as little about them personally as possible, because that’s what spies are.” If that view wins out, the next film will probably be built around secrecy at the top and selective continuity below it — exactly the kind of setup that could leave Bill Tanner in play.
