IN top secret meetings, crucial decisions are being made about the most anticipated movie of next year - the latest James Bond.
With the 26th official 007 film sure to have a new actor playing His Majesty’s secret agent, this will be the biggest change for almost two decades.
Eon productions, which have been making the spy movies since 1962, have so far spoken little publicly about what the post Daniel Craig era Bond will look like.
But little comments here, rumours there and insider tips elsewhere are helping to build up a picture of what the future might hold.
The fact that the much-loved franchise’s long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson were willing to kill off the world’s most famous secret agent in the previous movie No Time To Die tells us that they are willing to take risks.
It was a radical move which resulted in rave reviews and takings of over £600million at the global box office.
But what parts of the tuxedo-wearing, Martini-drinking hero are likely to be shaken up?
Barbara has ruled out it being “Bond, Jane Bond” because she insists that writer Ian Fleming’s spy was a man.
But she said the undercover MI6 operative could be from any ethnic background.
Idris Elba was long tipped to take over from Daniel, but at the age of 51 is likely to be too old because the producer said they want an actor aged under 40.
Last month, we exclusively reveals that Eon had formally offered the role to Kick-Ass star Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
Whether the 33-year-old has accepted the mission has not been confirmed.
Ever since Ursula Andress walked out of the Caribbean in a white bikini in Dr No, the female Bond roles have been massive talking points.
But with Lashana Lynch taking up the job title of 007 in No Time to Die after James Bond retired, the part has very much evolved.
That will make it more tempting for the likes of Oscar-nominated British actress Florence Pugh, who is one of the bookies' favourites to have been cast in the next Bond movie.
Also in the running are former Coronation Street star Michelle Keegan and The White Lotus actress Sydney Sweeney.
They should be exactly what I was, blonde, thinish, cute, able to wear or not wear clothes
Britt Ekland
They all have the glamour that is essential for the parts.
But former Bond girl Britt Ekland, who played Mary Goodnight in 1974’s The Man With the Golden Gun, isn’t keen on them being politically correct.
She tells us: “You don’t analyse Bond girls, you take them for what they are.
"They should be exactly what I was, blonde, thinish, cute, able to wear or not wear clothes, and taking good direction, which I did!”
There is no doubt that the new series of 007 movies will have to find a way to set themselves apart from the Daniel Craig era.
Barbara, who has the final say on all things Bond, said: “It’s a reinvention of Bond. We’re reinventing who he is and that takes time.”
But how different could it really be?
There has been talk of a young Bond, but Michael is not keen on that idea, having commented he’s “a veteran. He’s had some experience.”
Graham Rye, editor and publisher of 007 Magazine, floated the idea of taking the character back to the 1960s.
This, though, would rule out the possibility of up to date gadgets.
One thing that is unlikely to happen is that the secret agent will be taking on terrorists based on real world events.
Barbara told me in 2012: "It will always keep the fantasy."
We’re reinventing who he is and that takes time
Barbara Broccoli
Both Michael and Barbara have always emphasised their desire to retain key elements from Fleming’s novels and not to ditch too many of the beloved features such as the tux.
Some critics commented that Daniel’s 007 was more violent and had lost the refinement and fun of the Roger Moore era.
Former Bond girl Maud Adams told me: “Bond has become more violent and brutal. That’s because they are trying to keep up with the audience.
“There are action movies they need to compete with. Sometimes I miss the fun part, the tongue-in-cheek double entendre. But I am not sure if that is PC.”
The earliest we will see Bond using his licence to kill again is later next year.
There has been no announcement of a start date for the production and these mammoth movies take around nine months to make.
They are huge operations, straddling the globe, with thousands of people involved.
When the name of the next actor to play Bond is formally announced, we are sure to get details of the schedule.
One of the most important parts of casting a Bond movie is picking the right villain.
No one will ever forget Javier Bardem as the twisted Silva in Skyfall or Richard Kiel as Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me.
There was some talk of Oscar-winning Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy playing 007 - but the Irishman is a far better bet to play a nemesis.
His piercing eyes and menace would be a sure fire winner.
Other names in the hat have included Tom Hardy and even Idris Elba.
A lot of 007 fans would love to see Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan at the helm.
His ground-breaking action movies, Inception and Tenet, prove he has the vision and the Oscar winner is one of the greatest talents in Hollywood.
The Brit said: “I love the films. It would be an amazing privilege to do one.”
But he recently insisted reports that he’d signed on to make Bond 26 were totally untrue.
Barbara and Michael have been willing to take risks in the past, choosing directors without action experience, such as Marc Forster for Quantum of Solace.
There is normally a “second unit” director who is in charge of the big stunts.
That leaves the field wide open.
Perhaps, Aaron’s wife Sam Taylor-Johnson could be the first female Bond director?
Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge helped polish the No Time to Die script and looks odds on to take a bigger role in the next one.
Before No Time To Die came out Barbara Broccoli told me: “She’s a terrific writer. She’s great and we’re thrilled to have her.
“She’s made a tremendous contribution. We’re big fans of hers.”
Phoebe, who also worked on a theatre show with Barbara, is known for her deft comic writing.
Fans would certainly like to see more humour.
Only when the movie screens will we know if it is mission accomplished.
