Richard Osman has named the actor he's "heard" is being "strongly considered" for the role of James Bond in the latest film. It's been four years since veteran 007 star Daniel Craig bowed out as the suave MI6 agent in 2021's No Time to Die. Now, the race is on to find the actor who will inherit the role.
Seven actors have played Bond
Seven actors have played James Bond over the years, from Sean Connery to Pierce Brosnan. Auditions are now underway, with producer Amy Pascal suggesting a decision could be announced as early as the end of this year. Denis Villeneuve, the director behind Dune and Blade Runner 2049, has been tapped to helm the latest instalment.
Potential Bonds have reportedly been narrowed down to a shortlist that Deadline says could be anywhere from "five to seven" to a figure "in the teens". Some of the names reportedly in the mix include Frankenstein's Jacob Elordi, Fantastic Beasts actor Callum Turner, West End star Tom Francis and Nosferatu's Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
Osman's pick
Pop culture buff Richard Osman, however, has revealed a name he says is being "strongly" considered. Speaking to co-host Marina Hyde on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, he admitted he thinks the actor would be "amazing".
He said: "The name I've heard is Jack Lowden. It is definitively not a 'he's definitely got it' thing. He is definitely being strongly considered. I think he'd be amazing."
Known for his role as MI5 agent River Cartwright in the Apple TV spy series Slow Horses, it's safe to say Jack has the experience. He also plays Mr Darcy in Netflix's new Pride and Prejudice adaptation.
Scottish connection and timeline
If selected, he would be the first Scottish actor to play Bond since Sean Connery, whose final turn came in 1983's Never Say Never Again. Connery starred in seven 007 films in total, starting with 1962's Dr No.
Amy says it's a "good bet" that the new actor will be revealed later this year. She told Deadline: "I would say the end of the year is a good bet. We are being really, really methodical. Having worked with Barbara Broccoli at the studio, I mean, Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow. And it's got to be something really different that is a stirring and exciting and different."
Amazon has bought the rights to the franchise from Bond custodians Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, and is believed to want production to begin in 2027. Its film and TV arm, Amazon MGM Studios, released a statement earlier this year.
It read: "While we don't plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we're excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right." On writing duties is Steven Knight, known for his work on the British crime drama Peaky Blinders. He told Today on BBC Radio 4 that he couldn't exactly talk about his work on the hush-hush project, but was "loving it".
