United Kingdom, May 15 -- The search for a new James Bond has finally kicked off.

Daniel Craig quit his role as the superspy following the release of 2021's No Time To Die, which showed 007's death and he was followed out of the door by longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, but the franchise is being brought back to the big screen by Amazon MGM with Dune's Denis Villeneuve directing and Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight writing the script. Recent rumours suggested the new film - Bond 26 - is about to go into production at Pinewood Studios in the UK but a new lead actor has yet to be announced.

Now studio bosses have confirmed auditions have started. Amazon MGM Studios said in a statement: "The search for the next...