Screenwriter Steven Knight, known for creating gritty, character-driven dramas like Peaky Blinders and the upcoming House of Guinness, has confirmed that he has written 142 pages of the next James Bond script — without a single actor in mind for 007. Industry insiders are already calling the move “the boldest creative gamble since Daniel Craig redefined the role.”
Knight, who officially joined James Bond 26 as lead writer earlier this year, spoke briefly about the project during a promotional interview for House of Guinness. While he remained tight-lipped about plot details, he made one revelation that sent the Bond fandom into a frenzy.
“Yes,” he said simply when asked if he was writing the new Bond with no chosen actor in mind.
A Bond Script Written in a Creative Vacuum — On Purpose
In an era where speculation over casting has nearly overshadowed the film itself, Knight’s decision stands out. Traditionally, Bond scripts are shaped around the chosen actor — from Sean Connery’s suave charm to Daniel Craig’s emotionally layered portrayal.
By writing 142 pages without anchoring the character to a face or persona, Knight appears to be attempting something rare: a Bond defined by narrative before casting politics.
“You don’t know what’s going to happen until you start writing,” Knight told Radio Times. “I’m hoping to write something that feels the same, but different — stronger and bolder.”
A Long-Time Fan With Something to Prove
For Knight, the assignment is personal.
“It’s been on my bucket list,” he said in a previous interview. “To be invited is fantastic. I’ve been a Bond fan all my life — it’s in me. Now it’s about making something worthy of that legacy.”
The film will be produced by Amy Pascal and David Heyman, with Denis Villeneuve (Dune, Blade Runner 2049) reportedly set to direct — a combination that suggests a visually rich, perhaps more psychologically intense Bond era.
“The Boldest Move Since Craig”
Within industry circles, Knight’s approach is being quietly described as “a reset in its purest form.” Craig’s 2006 debut in Casino Royale was seen as a hard tonal shift — but this time, the transformation appears to be starting on the page, not in the casting chair.
While rumor mills continue to circulate names from Aaron Taylor-Johnson to Damson Idris, Knight’s script-first strategy suggests that whoever takes the role next will need to fit the story — not the other way around.
Meanwhile: Knight’s New Series Arrives Sooner
Before the world meets his version of Bond, Knight’s newest period drama, House of Guinness, will premiere on Netflix on 25th September 2025. Starring Anthony Boyle, Louis Partridge, Emily Fairn, and Fionn O’Shea, the series explores family power, legacy, and identity — themes not far removed from the emotional backbone he may be crafting for 007.
James Bond 26 is confirmed for a theatrical release.
House of Guinness arrives on Netflix this September.
Whether or not Steven Knight is rewriting Bond history, one thing is clear — for the first time in years, 007 is being written without a face, only a legacy.
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