The producers of the James Bond films indicated that they'll figure out the next movie's villain before casting the title character.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson talked about the future of James Bond following Daniel Craig's departure from the role. The duo were asked about speculation and if that affects how they approach the franchise creatively. Broccoli said that they currently "think about the trajectory of the Bond films and the storylines and where we want to take them" before casting 007 because of the time commitment required for the role.

RELATED: Why James Bond's Bosses Don't Blame Idris Elba For Not Wanting the Role

The next question asked them about how societal changes might be reflected in a new Bond, and Broccoli explained, "We always sit down with our writers, and we start by thinking about what is the world afraid of? We start by thinking about, 'Who's the Bond villain?' We try to focus on that as the sort of uber story, and then we want to also look at Bond's emotional life, and what he'll be facing personally that he hasn't had to deal with before. So he has two big issues in the films — one is the geopolitical one and the other is the personal one."

Wilson added, "Everyone thought that the Berlin Wall came down it was all hunky dory and there would be no stories to tell anymore. Well, that proved wrong. The world is so unpredictable and it's a rich environment for storytelling."

RELATED: James Bond Bosses Say the Franchise Is Built for Theaters, Not TV

What's Going on With Bond?

Created by Ian Fleming, Bond is a spy who debuted in the 1953 novel Casino Royale. The character has appeared in many movies, where he's been played by a bevvy of different actors. The most recent, Daniel Craig, played the part from 2006's Casino Royale until 2021's No Time to Die.

At the time of writing, it's not clear who will replace Bond in the role, though there's been a lot of speculation over the years. Idris Elba, likely best known for his role as Heimdall in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has been one popular fan choice. However, Elba has said that he's not sold on playing the character and that "it is not a goal for my career." Broccoli and Wilson have said they understand his reticence.

All of the mainline James Bond movies are available to stream or own on home media.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter