The Perfect 2022 Date To Announce The New James Bond Actor

Following Daniel Craig's exit the search is on for a new James Bond actor, and there's already a perfect 2022 date for this announcement to be made.

If the next James Bond actor is going to be announced in 2022, then there's a perfect date for it to happen. Daniel Craig exited the Bond franchise following the long-delayed No Time To Die, so now the search is on for his successor to take over in James Bond 26. There's no shortage of candidates either, with names like Henry Cavill, Regé-Jean Page and Henry Golding often being linked to the part. Replacing Craig will be no easy feat either, as the actor's run came to redefine the character for a new generation, in addition to presenting a more human version of 007.

In casting the new Bond actor, producers not only have to find somebody who can bring something new to an iconic role, but they'll also have to consider how the franchise will evolve. Spy thrillers and blockbusters have changed in major ways since 2006's Casino Royale - which has three adaptations - so just trying to copy what worked in the Craig era won't work. The series has also become increasingly director-focused, with the likes of Sam Mendes and Cary Joji Fukunaga giving their entires a unique feel, so the right filmmaker is also key.

It's unclear who is the favorite to take Craig's place as 007, or even when James Bond 26 will land. It's also unknown when the latest performer to take the mantle will be announced. However, it's worth noting that 2022 will mark a very important date in the franchise; it's the 60th anniversary since the first movie Dr. No arrived in cinemas. The movie was released on October 5th, 1962, and every year since 2012 Global James Bond Day has been celebrated by fans around the world to make the date. In lieu of a new movie, 2022's Global James Bond Day should be when the next 007 performer is confirmed for Bond 26.

Past Global James Bond Days have seen the release of teaser images for upcoming films or other promotional tie-ins, but announcing a new 007 during a press conference would be a nice touch for such an important anniversary. It would also mark over a year since Craig's No Time To Die hit theaters, and it's unlikely producers want to wait another six years between entries like the gap between Spectre and NTTD.

While Daniel Craig will be missed, fans of the Bond movies are also excited about where the next era will take the character. Craig held the role for 15 years - which is even longer than previous record-holder Roger Moore - and a change in actor always signals a change in direction for the series. October 5th is a date that celebrates the past of the James Bond movie series while also looking to the future, so there's really no better date in 2022 to announce who will play 007 in James Bond 26.

Next: Bond 26: Regé-Jean Page Isn’t Killing His 007 Chance With Blockbuster Roles