James Bond star Rory Kinnear has revealed the extreme lengths producers are going to in order to protect the franchise amid feverish speculation over who will play the next 007.

The celebrated actor, who has played MI6 Chief of Staff Bill Tanner in four Bond films opposite Daniel Craig, has disclosed that scripts are being delivered by hand rather than emailed – a strict security measure introduced after the 2014 Sony Pictures hack that saw early drafts of Spectre leaked online.

‘The script for James Bond is delivered by car,’ Rory revealed on Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s Dinner’s On Me podcast. ‘And if there are changes in the script, they are delivered by car.’

The unprecedented leak more than a decade ago not only contained major spoilers for Spectre, but also the projected budget of $300 million made the film one of the most expensive to be made at the time. 

The cyber leak also contained celebrities’ details and exchanges between executives slamming the ending, to have it rewritten multiple times.

James Bond star Rory Kinnear (left) has revealed the extreme lengths producers are going to to protect the franchise amid feverish speculation over who will play the next 007

The celebrated actor, who has played MI6 Chief of Staff Bill Tanner in four Bond films opposite Daniel Craig (pictured) 

Producers were forced to immediately scrap digital distribution. Since then, the franchise has become infamous for its cloak-and-dagger approach – even among its own cast.

Rory, 47, added of the script delivery strategy: ‘They got burnt, so I understand why they do it.’

The Olivier award winner starred in Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, Spectre and No Time To Die, and is one of the longest-standing actors in the current Bond universe.

His comments come at a pivotal moment for Bond, as the franchise undergoes its most radical transformation in decades. 

Amazon, which bought MGM in an $8.5billion deal, now holds the creative reins, and has appointed Dune director Denis Villeneuve to take charge of Bond 26.

The French-Canadian filmmaker, a self-confessed ‘die-hard’ Bond fan, promised to ‘honour the tradition’ of 007 while opening up the franchise ‘to many new missions to come.’

He is joined by powerhouse producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman, with Eon’s Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson still involved behind the scenes.

Casting, however, remains the hottest topic of conversation – and the race to replace Daniel Craig recently took a dramatic turn.

‘The script for James Bond is delivered by car,’ Rory revealed. ‘And if there are changes in the script, they are delivered by car’ (pictured in No Time To Die with Ralph Fiennes and Naomie Harris)

While Kick-Ass and 28 Years Later star Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 35, remains the bookies’ favourite, a surprise new contender has emerged: 37-year-old Scott Rose-Marsh.

The relatively unknown British actor – whose credits include Wolves of War and Code of Silence – has leapt to eighth place on the Oddschecker leaderboard, overtaking heavyweights like Henry Cavill and Jack Lowden.

Despite his lack of blockbuster experience, Rose-Marsh’s sudden rise has set tongues wagging in industry circles. Sources say Villeneuve is keen to cast an actor who can grow into the role, rather than one already saturated by franchise fame.

Tom Holland, Theo James, Aaron Pierre, Harris Dickinson, Jacob Elordi and James Norton also remain in the top ten, though insiders claim the director’s shortlist has shifted several times since he took the reins earlier this summer.

Meanwhile, on the Bond girl front, Euphoria and Anyone But You star Sydney Sweeney is widely tipped for a lead role. 

A source told The Sun: ‘Sydney is the top name on the casting sheet for Bond. Denis believes she is hugely talented, as well as having an alluring appeal to younger generations — vital in modernising the franchise.’

Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 35, remains the bookies’ favourite to be the next Bond 

On the Bond girl front, Euphoria and Anyone But You star Sydney Sweeney is widely tipped for a lead role

Sydney, 27, is reportedly close friends with Villeneuve and is being considered for a central role in the upcoming film – potentially as a high-stakes MI6 agent or a powerful femme fatale to match 007 blow for blow.

Amazon is expected to officially unveil the cast later this year, with pre-production already underway and filming expected to begin in 2026. 

The release date is currently pegged for late 2027, though that may change depending on location availability.

Bond purists were reportedly unsettled by news that filming may not take place in London due to a Central London ban next year. 

According to insiders, Liverpool is now a frontrunner to double for the capital – a choice previously used in major franchises such as The Batman and Captain America.

A source said: ‘This will no doubt irk Bond purists who already fear Amazon taking over the 007 franchise may lead to them making big changes. But Liverpool has become a well-known alternative to London for filmmakers. That doesn’t necessarily mean the story is set there — but fans will spot it.’