The next James Bond still has not been cast, but the Bond girl guessing game is already moving fast.
With Denis Villeneuve set to direct the next 007 film and Steven Knight writing the script, fans are watching every possible casting clue. The new movie is expected to launch a fresh Bond era, with production reportedly eyed for 2027 and a possible 2028 release.
That means one of the franchise’s most famous roles is also up for debate: the next Bond girl.
Zendaya And Florence Pugh Enter Bond Talk
The Bond girl role has changed a lot since the early days of the franchise. In the Daniel Craig era, the women around 007 were often sharper, tougher and more central to the story.
Now, several major names are being floated as possible contenders.
Sydney Sweeney has long been a fan-favorite pick, but Zendaya, Florence Pugh and Anya Taylor-Joy are also gaining attention. Prediction market Kalshi recently placed all three inside its top 10 potential picks for the role.
Those odds are not official casting news. Still, they have been enough to get Bond fans talking.
Denis Villeneuve Connection Could Matter
Zendaya, Pugh and Taylor-Joy all have one interesting thing in common: they have worked with Villeneuve in the ‘Dune’ universe.
That existing connection may not guarantee anything, but it does make the speculation feel less random.
Zendaya has already proven she can handle massive franchises, from ‘Dune’ to ‘Spider-Man.’ Pugh has shown both dramatic range and action strength through projects like ‘Black Widow’ and ‘Thunderbolts.’ Taylor-Joy, meanwhile, brings a colder, mysterious edge that could fit neatly inside a Bond world.
Each would offer a very different version of the role.
Bond Girl Role Could Shift Again
The bigger question is what Amazon General Motors Studios wants this next Bond era to feel like.
If the studio wants a glamorous, high-profile partner for 007, Zendaya makes sense. If it wants a sharp, physical equal who can handle danger, Pugh fits. If it wants an elegant wildcard with thriller energy, Taylor-Joy may be the strongest match.
Then there is Sweeney, who remains a major online favorite and could bring her own star power to the franchise.
For now, no Bond actor has been officially announced, and no Bond girl has been cast. But the speculation says plenty.
Fans do not just want someone standing beside 007 anymore. They want someone who can steal the scene.
