Gary Oldman clarifies James Bond casting remarks as Steven Knight completes 26th film script
At the Toronto International Film Festival, Gary Oldman denied having inside information on the next James Bond while backing co-star Jack Lowden, as screenwriter Steven Knight finished the 26th film draft.
Clarifying the casting rumors
At the Toronto International Film Festival on 11 September 2026, British actor Gary Oldman addressed reports claiming he possessed private knowledge regarding the casting of James Bond. Oldman had drawn widespread attention following an interview with Canadian broadcaster Global on The Morning Show, where he remarked that producers had finalized their choice for the role. Speaking at a Visionaries session with Josh Horowitz and at the Deadline studio, Oldman stated that his remarks had been misinterpreted. He explained that he was responding to existing media reports of a six-actor shortlist rather than acting on information from director Denis Villeneuve. Oldman also recalled a past incident on Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises, noting that he had previously been reprimanded for revealing production secrets.
There's six candidates. The rumor is that they've made their pick, but we don't know who it is, and they're waiting to announce it.
Endorsement of Jack Lowden
Oldman reiterated his support for his Slow Horses co-star, 36-year-old Scottish actor Jack Lowden. In Toronto alongside cast members Saskia Reeves, Christopher Chung, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Ruth Bradley, and director Adam Randall, Oldman described Lowden as well suited to succeed Daniel Craig, Roger Moore, and Sean Connery. Oldman noted that Lowden possesses an ironic demeanor and wit, and described his Scottish background as a positive parallel to Connery. Oldman contacted Lowden directly after the initial reports, recounting that Lowden took the media reaction in stride. Following the remarks, betting odds on Lowden securing the 007 role shortened among bookmakers.
Part of the recipe for Bond, he's got to have his sort of tongue in his cheek slightly, and a twinkle in his eye, and Jack Lowden has those qualities.
Script progress and production timeline
The casting discussions follow progress on the script for the 26th James Bond film. Screenwriter Steven Knight confirmed to Zoe Ball on Greatest Hits Radio that he has completed the first draft of the screenplay, calling the assignment a duty for King and country. On BBC Radio 4's Today program, Knight stated that he wrote the script by balancing the established character with prospective performers. Casting auditions took place in August 2026, where director Denis Villeneuve and producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman evaluated contenders. Actors identified as fitting the studio's criteria include Harris Dickinson, Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Tom Holland, and Kingsley Ben-Adir.
- Amazon MGM Studios assumes creative control after the release of No Time to Die
- Auditions held by Denis Villeneuve, Amy Pascal, and David Heyman
- Steven Knight confirms completion of the first screenplay draft
- Gary Oldman clarifies casting shortlist remarks at TIFF
Transition under Amazon MGM
The upcoming reboot represents the first Bond feature developed under Amazon MGM Studios, which assumed creative control after Daniel Craig's final outing in the 2021 film No Time to Die. Since Ian Fleming's fictional spy debuted in cinemas in 1962, the film series has accumulated more than $7 billion (approximately €6 billion) in worldwide box office receipts. Alongside the Bond discussions at TIFF, Oldman and his colleagues presented promotional material for Slow Horses Season 6, which releases on Apple TV on 16 September 2026 based on Mick Herron's novels Joe Country and Slough House, while production ramps up on Season 7.
