Four names left in the race

Amazon MGM Studios has reportedly arranged at least four screen tests for the role of 007, according to a Deadline report published on Thursday, 22 October. Three of the invitations went to the British actors Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Josh O'Connor, and the identity of the fourth actor has not been confirmed. Deadline's sources said the final auditions could begin as early as Friday, 23 October, and continue into the week of 26 October. The studio has not officially named a successor to Daniel Craig, who played the character in his last five films, the most recent being No Time to Die in 2021. Denis Villeneuve is directing the new film, and Steven Knight is writing the script.

The three frontrunners

Jack Lowden has the most visible backing so far. He debuted in the Scottish series Being Victor in 2010, and his Slow Horses co-star Gary Oldman has repeatedly said he wants Lowden to play 007. Callum Turner is known for Fantastic Beasts and Masters of the Air, while Josh O'Connor has earned critical recognition for The Crown and Rivales. Vulture points out that the three finalists it knows of are all 36 years old, which leaves little room for the younger Bond some had expected. On 20 October, Jeff Sneider reported that Jacob Elordi and Jack Lowden were among the finalists, with Elordi as the favourite, and on 21 October Jordan Ruimy said his sources described a field of two known names plus a third. Deadline's report of 22 October describes a substantially different picture, with three names it identified.

Timing and delays

Screen tests were originally planned for early October, but SAPO reports they were postponed because of scheduling problems with the finalists, since the studio wants the candidates to be roughly the same height. Deadline's sources said no calendar has been set for a final decision, although most expect one by the end of the year. An announcement could come before the end of 2026, though no official date has been given. Craig's last film as 007 came out in 2021, and the franchise has been searching for his successor since then.

Reactions and background

Debbie McWilliams, a retired casting director who helped cast Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig, spoke to The Independent earlier this year about the qualities the role needs. Her core argument was that audiences must believe in the character's licence to kill.

“He's licensed to kill, and we have to believe that he can do that.”

She also said she did not want to see actors whose private lives audiences already know well in the role, arguing that spies should be the people the audience knows least about. La Vanguardia puts the value of the franchise, which began with Ian Fleming's Casino Royale, at $8 billion.

What comes next

The studio has not officially announced any candidate, and the fourth actor remains unconfirmed. Deadline's sources said no date has been set for choosing the actor, and the number of candidates is still described as fluctuating. A casting announcement could come before the end of 2026, which would end a search that has run since Craig's final film as 007. Until then, every name on the list remains unofficial, and the reports so far do not agree on the full shortlist.