New Delhi: Five years after Daniel Craig’s final appearance as James Bond in No Time to Die (2021), the search for the next 007 has entered its final stage, with actors Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Josh O’Connor reportedly among those being considered for the role.
The casting process has reached the screen-test stage, with at least four actors reportedly receiving offers to audition for the iconic British secret agent. The identity of the fourth candidate has not been disclosed, according to a report by Deadline.
The next Bond film will be directed by Denis Villeneuve, known for directing Dune and Blade Runner 2049. Steven Knight, the creator of Peaky Blinders, is writing the screenplay, while producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman are overseeing the project.
The frontrunners
Scottish actor Jack Lowden is among the reported contenders for the role. He is known for playing River Cartwright, an MI5 agent, in the espionage series Slow Horses. His filmography includes Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk and the historical drama Mary Queen of Scots.
Lowden’s name has gained attention in recent months, particularly after his Slow Horses co-star Gary Oldman expressed support for him becoming the next Bond. However, the actor’s casting has not been officially confirmed.
Oldman, who plays the MI5 intelligence chief Jackson Lamb in Apple TV+’s Slow Horses, was asked about the speculation around Lowden, who plays River Cartwright in the series. “It’s been rumoured that he’s on the shortlist,” Oldman said, before adding, “We’re going to find out pretty soon, aren’t we? Because they have picked him. They have made their choice, but they have not announced it yet,” he said.
Oldman then made it clear which actor he would personally like to see in the film. “My fingers are crossed for Jack,” he said.
English actor Callum Turner is another reported candidate. He gained recognition for his role as Theseus Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts film series and starred in the Second World War drama Masters of the Air.
Turner has been linked to the Bond role for several months. His name has repeatedly appeared in reports about potential successors to Daniel Craig, although neither Turner nor Amazon MGM Studios has confirmed his involvement in the final casting process.
Josh O’Connor is also reportedly among the actors being considered. He is best known for playing Prince Charles in the Netflix series The Crown, a performance that earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series.
O’Connor has also appeared in films including Challengers and La Chimera. His reported inclusion in the final round puts him alongside Turner and Lowden as one of the publicly identified candidates.
A total of six actors have played the character of Bond in the official Eon film series, and they have to perform the same scene to become Bond. The scene is from From Russia with Love (1963), where 007 comes out of the bathroom to find Tatiana Romanova in his bed.
“The word is effortless. You never see Bond fumble, he is very economic, efficient and effortless. That scene covers all the bases basically,” Martin Campbell, director of GoldenEye and Casino Royale, said.
(Edited by Aakriti Handa)