The James Bond franchise has been in something of a holding pattern for the last year or so, as the continuing open question of whether or not the long-running franchise's latest star, Daniel Craig, will return for a fifth outing as 007 a factor in holding up the process. Director Sam Mendes already announced that he won't be returning for a third turn behind the camera.

The last Bond film was Spectre in the fall of 2015; nearly a year and a half later, there’s no indication of a title - though it's tentatively being called Bond 25 - a plot, a director or a release date for the next 007 movie, much less any word about which actor will be putting on the tux. But now we know who’s writing the story for the 25th canonical James Bond film.

Journalist Baz Bamigboye of the Daily Mail reported on Twitter Thursday that Neal Purvis and Robert Wade have signed on to write the story for the next Bond movie. Purvis and Wade are among the credited writers for the last six Bond films, going back to 1999’s Pierce Brosnan-starring The World is Not Enough. They were credited, at least partially, on all four of the Craig 007 films to date; they wrote Spectre along with John Logan and Jez Butterworth. As for Craig, according to Bamigboye, the actor is “still deciding whether he will do it,” which has essentially been the story, aside from a few twists and turns, since around the time of Spectre’s release.

Is it time for a new 007? Craig has been, by most indications, a successful Bond. All four of his films were worldwide hits, and two of the four (Casino Royale and Skyfall) were greatly respected by critics. Spectre may not have been many people's favorite 007 film, but the series has rebounded from disappointing chapters many times before.

Then again, if Craig has already played the part for 11 years, and if he's so non-committal about returning perhaps it might be time for some new blood, whether it’s Idris Elba, or Damien Lewis, or Michael Fassbender or Jamie Bell or Tom Hiddleston. Whoever plays Bond, it appears the first step has been taken towards the production of a 25th 007 film.

The release date of the next James Bond film, Bond 25, remains unknown, but stay tuned to Screen Rant for more information as it becomes available.

Next: Should Michael Fassbender Be the Next James Bond?

Source: Baz Bamigboye/The Daily Mail