Amazon MGM Studios has officially begun the search for the next actor to play James Bond, ending years of speculation over who will succeed Daniel Craig as the iconic British spy.

In a brief statement released on Thursday, the studio confirmed that auditions for the next instalment in the long-running franchise are underway.

“The search for the next James Bond is underway,” the company said, adding that the casting process had “just begun”.

The studio did not reveal details about potential candidates but said more information would be shared with fans later.

Speculation over the future of the role has intensified since Craig’s final appearance as 007 in the 2021 film No Time to Die.

Actors frequently linked to the role include Idris Elba, Henry Cavill, Cillian Murphy, Callum Turner, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Harris Dickinson and Australian actor Jacob Elordi.

Last year, Amazon MGM Studios took over creative control of the Bond franchise from longtime producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.

The James Bond film series, based on Ian Fleming’s novels, began in 1962 with Sean Connery starring in Dr No.

Other actors to portray Bond include George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.

The upcoming film will be directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, known for Dune, Arrival and Blade Runner 2049.

Villeneuve will work alongside executive producer Tanya Lapointe and producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman.

The screenplay is being written by Steven Knight, creator of Peaky Blinders.