The iconic role of James Bond has found a new actor.

The hunt for the next James Bond is officially over. Screenwriter Steven Knight revealed in a recent interview that the iconic role has finally been filled. Producer Amy Pascal had hinted earlier that a new Bond would be announced by the end of the year.

Knight, known for creating Peaky Blinders, is penning the script for the upcoming film, which aims to reboot the franchise under new ownership. During the interview, he mentioned that writing the script became much easier once the lead actor was confirmed. “It does make life a little bit easier if you know who that person is, but also you have to write the character, not the actor,” he explained.

He also shared his thoughts on the pressure surrounding the project, stating, “The only thing I can say is it feels like I’m doing my duty for king and country – if you’re a British writer, you have to do it. The thing with Bond is it’s its own universe and its own franchise. Obviously, you have to move it along, but I love where it sits. I love that it’s British and it’s not DC or Marvel.” Knight expressed a sense of responsibility to honor Ian Fleming’s original novels.

As for potential candidates for the role, names like Jack Barton, Jack Lowden, Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Paul Mescal, and Harris Dickinson have surfaced. Aaron Taylor-Johnson has also been a popular choice, especially after recently signing a deal with Omega, the official watch brand for the Bond series. The franchise’s creative control was acquired by Amazon last year, and they brought on casting director Nina Gold, known for her work on Game of Thrones, for the reboot. Gold won the first-ever Academy Award for Achievement in Casting for her work on last year’s Hamnet.

We might get more details next month during the official James Bond Day on October 5, which commemorates the release of Dr. No.

Denis Villeneuve is set to direct the new Bond film, but production is not expected to begin until after Dune: Part 3 hits theaters in December. It’s been nearly five years since the last Bond film, No Time to Die, which marked Daniel Craig’s fifth and final outing as the iconic spy.

The race for the world’s most coveted casting role is nearing its conclusion.