The high-stakes search for the next James Bond has entered its final stretch, with a small group of British actors undergoing secretive screen tests to determine who will inherit cinema’s most famous tuxedo, according to reports across industry trade publications.
Reports published by Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter identified Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Josh O’Connor among the finalists participating in screen tests, which took place over the weekend of Oct. 23 at Bray Studios outside London. The outlets noted that at least four actors were called in to audition for the franchise’s producers, leaving the identity of the fourth contender a subject of intense speculation across the film industry.
A tight shortlist and a mystery contender
While Lowden, 36, is known for his role in “Slow Horses,” and Turner, also 36, recently led “Masters of the Air,” questions remain about the rest of the testing slate. The Hollywood Reporter noted that “Sinners” star Jack O’Connell was rumored to be in the mix, leading to questions over whether O’Connell or O’Connor had taken part in the auditions. Meanwhile, The Independent reported that other names floated by industry observers include 31-year-old actor Jack Barton, who appeared in “Heartstopper” and previously worked with incoming Bond screenwriter Steven Knight on the BBC drama “SAS: Rogue Heroes.”
Several previously favored contenders have fallen out of contention, according to trade reports. The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Australian star Jacob Elordi and Nicholas Hoult are not testing for the part. Additionally, Harris Dickinson withdrew from consideration after facing exhaustion from filming four consecutive Beatles films in which he plays John Lennon, according to film reporter Jeff Sneider’s Hot Mic podcast.
The post-Craig era begins
The casting push comes nearly five years after Daniel Craig concluded his 15-year tenure as the British spy in “No Time to Die,” which reached theaters in October 2021. The franchise underwent a significant corporate shift when Amazon took control of 007 backer MGM Studios in January 2025.
Amazon has already installed a high-profile creative team for the next installment. Denis Villeneuve, known for directing the “Dune” series, has been tapped to helm the untitled project, with Knight penning the screenplay. According to Collider, production is tentatively expected to begin next year, pointing toward a possible release in 2028.
As fans await the official announcement, the franchise has expanded in other mediums. IO Interactive released the video game “007 First Light” in May, and an eight-hour audio drama titled “Young Bond: Silverfin” debuted across streaming platforms this week, featuring Isaac Rouse voicing a 13-year-old Bond.
With screen tests now completed, trade outlets report that an official announcement revealing the seventh actor to play 007 could arrive before the end of the year.
