‘Game of Thrones’ Casting Vet Leading

The hunt for the next James Bond has officially kicked off.

Amazon MGM Studios started auditioning actors for the part of 007 in the past few weeks, Variety has learned, with the studio enlisting the help of Nina Gold to find the man with the suaveness and danger necessary to replace Daniel Craig as Ian Fleming’s super-spy.

“The search for the next James Bond is underway,” Amazon MGM Studios said in a statement. “While we don’t plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we’re excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right.”

Gold did not respond to a request for comment, but a source with knowledge of the production confirmed her involvement. Her enlistment in the 26th James Bond makes sense. Gold understands the complexities of big franchises and is best known for filling out the world of Westeros on HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” Her credits include the Netflix series “The Crown,” as well as five films in the Star Wars franchise. The latter gig saw her cast Daisy Ridley as Rey in “The Force Awakens.” Gold’s credits also include “Les Misérables,” “The Martian” and “Conclave.” She was nominated for an Oscar for her work on “Hamnet” in 2025 — the first year that the Academy had an award for casting.

Debbie McWilliams served as casting director on “The Living Daylights,” “Goldeneye” and “Casino Royale,” helping to find Craig, Pierce Brosnan and Timothy Dalton. Sean Connery, Roger Moore and George Lazenby are the other actors who have been granted Bond’s license to kill.

The next James Bond film will be directed by Denis Villeneuve, the filmmaker behind the “Dune” franchise, “Arrival” and “Sicario.” Amy Pascal of the “Spider-Man” films and David Heyman of the “Harry Potter” series will produce the picture, which will feature a script from “Peaky Blinders” creator Steven Knight.

Even before auditions started, there’s been rampant speculation about who might wield Bond’s Walther PPK, with everyone from Jacob Elordi to Callum Turner and Aaron Taylor-Johnson rumored to be in contention for the role.

Last month at CinemaCon, Courtenay Valenti, Amazon MGM’s head of film, provided a small update on casting Bond.

“We’re taking the time to do this with care and deep respect,” she said. “It is the dream of a lifetime for all of us to bring audiences this next chapter, and it’s a responsibility we don’t take lightly. What I can tell you is this: When you pair one of the most beloved franchises in history with a world-class film-making team, including the brilliant director Denis Villeneuve, extraordinary producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman, executive producer Tanya Lapointe and screenwriter Steven Knight, you’re setting the stage for something that’s truly worthy of the Bond legacy. That film is coming, and when the time is right, we’ll have much more to share.”