The immediate future of the James Bond franchise is in chaos after the sudden departure of the director Danny Boyle.
Bond films have increasingly toyed with topicality, with Spectre hanging on an initiative to axe field agents in favour of virtual espionage.
Purvis and Wade have previously written six Bond films, including all four Craig outings, as well as the final two starring his predecessor, Pierce Brosnan.
The Bond script was reportedly a deal-breaker for Boyle, who took on the project after the departure of Sam Mendes, who directed Skyfall in 2009 before returning (having previously quit) for 2015’s Spectre.