Now that Amazon has hired Denis Villeneuve as the franchise’s next director, the pace is to accelerate on the 26th outing of James Bond.

Amazon is looking at a 2028 release date for Bond 26. Anything sooner would be impossible to pull off, given the film’s scale.

The studio and producers are interested in casting British actor under age 30, with Jacob Elordi (“Saltburn”), Tom Holland (“Spider-Man”) and Harris Dickinson (“Babygirl”) at the top of the list. Elordi is Australian, but Aussie George Lazenby had starred in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.”

Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Henry Cavill would be possible heirs to Craig, except they are 35 and 42, respectively, and thus unlikely to fit the mandate.

So, too, is fan-favorite Idris Elba, 52, who has ducked Bond speculation for years.

But Cuarón removed himself from competition, choosing to focus on other projects, including the Charlize Theron-starrer “Jane.” That film, which is also on a fast track at Amazon, is awaiting a draft of the script from Jack Thorne, who penned the “Enola Holmes” trilogy.

The Broccoli family held tight control of the franchise’s creative direction, and ultimately had final say.

But Barbara Broccoli and her half-brother, Michael Wilson, relinquished the reins earlier this year and now have only financial stake in the property.

Either way, Nolan is tied up on his next project, The Odyssey, which stars Holland, for at least a year.

Amazon has a short list of writers who will chart the future course for the man with the license to kill as he makes his debut with Amazon after decades at MGM. One scenario making the rounds is that Jonathan Nolan, whose take on the material was enthusiastically received at Amazon, would write the screenplay. Though Nolan has a close relationship with the studio via the series “Fallout,” sources say he is not available to write.