Ben Whishaw says the James Bond franchise “needs to be reinvented completely.” The 46-year-old actor, who played Q opposite Daniel Craig, offered his assessment in a new interview with The Sunday Times.
Whishaw believes the world has changed considerably since the last Bond movie and that the filmmakers must reconsider what makes the character relevant. He stopped short of proposing specific changes, adding, “But it’s not for me to say.”
He also described the excitement surrounding Craig’s successor as “all deliberate hype.” Recalling the secrecy surrounding the productions, he said actors received only the script pages involving their own characters.
“It’s a ploy to create suspense and glamour, but it’s kind of fun,” he added.
Whishaw Had Already Completed His Three-Film Contract
Whishaw took over the role of Q from John Cleese in 2012’s Skyfall, returning for Spectre in 2015 and No Time to Die in 2021.
His introduction takes place inside London’s National Gallery, where Q and Bond sit before J.M.W. Turner’s The Fighting Temeraire. Their conversation pits the young quartermaster’s confidence in computers against Bond’s experience in the field.
In 2023, he told Radio Times, “I was only contracted to do three films, and they’re done.”
During a September 2024 appearance on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Whishaw predicted that the producers would start over with an entirely new cast. He stressed that this was a hunch and said he would happily return if asked. The new Sunday Times profile reports that he will not appear in the next installment.
His Concerns About Q’s Personal Life Date Back to 2022
Whishaw previously questioned how No Time to Die handled his character’s sexuality. In one scene, Bond and Eve Moneypenny interrupt Q while he is preparing dinner for a date. Q mentions that his expected guest is a man, but the film does not develop that relationship further.
In a January 2022 interview with The Guardian, Whishaw recalled wondering why the film introduced that aspect of Q’s life without exploring it. He considered raising his concerns but ultimately performed the scene as written.
He had discussed the idea with longtime Bond producer Barbara Broccoli before filming and believed it came from good intentions. The latest profile refers back to those earlier comments.
Amazon’s Bond Team Includes Denis Villeneuve and Steven Knight
The next movie will be the first developed under Amazon MGM Studios’ creative control. A joint venture with longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, announced in February 2025 and completed the following month, left the parties as co-owners while transferring creative authority to the studio.
Dune director Denis Villeneuve is directing, with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight writing the screenplay. Amy Pascal and David Heyman are producing, and Tanya Lapointe serves as executive producer.
Knight discussed the assignment on BBC Radio 4’s Today program in September 2026. According to the Irish Examiner, he said Bond has an established identity and rules, while acknowledging that the franchise must keep moving forward. He declined to address speculation about Slow Horses actor Jack Lowden.
Amazon has said it will not comment on specific casting details during the search. No lead actor, title or release date has been officially announced.
Whishaw Returns in ‘Black Doves’ on November 5
Whishaw’s next spy story arrives with the second season of Black Doves, which premieres November 5. He returns as Sam Young, a professional assassin whose friendship with Keira Knightley’s undercover operative Helen Webb drives the series.
According to Netflix, Helen continues passing government secrets to the Black Doves while her husband, Wallace, prepares to become prime minister. Her handler, Reed, goes missing, and Sam becomes indebted to a mysterious man who gets him out of prison.
New cast members include Ambika Mod as operative Laila, Babou Ceesay as Black Doves executive Mr. Conteh, Sam Riley as the enigmatic Patrick and Neve Campbell as U.S. defense envoy Cecile Mason. Sarah Lancashire, Kathryn Hunter, Gabrielle Creevy and Ella Lily Hyland return for the six-episode season.