The search for the new James Bond is taking so long because of Amazon's "care and deep respect" for the process

The search for the next James Bond is still ongoing, and Amazon has explained the reason for the long wait. Speaking at CinemaCon, the head of film at Amazon MGM Studios addressed the elephant in the room.

"Now, I know you’re all wondering when we’re going to announce who’s playing James Bond," Courtenay Valenti told audiences (per Variety). "Don’t get too excited. Please know that we’re taking the time to do this with care and deep respect. It is the dream of a lifetime for all of us to bring audiences this next chapter, and it’s a responsibility we don’t take lightly."

It's been five years since Daniel Craig last played 007, leaving the iconic role behind. Speculation about who could replace him has been ongoing for even longer, with several names touted for the part over the years. But despite no movement on who will take on the role next, we do have some details about the next movie.

Dune's Denis Villeneuve will direct, with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight writing the script. According to Valenti, it's a "world-class filmmaking team" for the studio, which is "setting the stage for something that’s truly worthy of the Bond legacy." She added: "That film is coming, and when the time is right, we’ll have much more to share."

The candidates for the next James Bond have included just about everyone, with focus shifting over the years from stars like Idris Elba and Henry Cavill to more recent favorites like Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Callum Turner. Only time will tell if any of these predictions have been right or whether a newcomer may take the lead.

In the meantime, check out our list of the best James Bond movies to watch now.