James Bond fans may not have to wait much longer for the announcement of the next actor to play 007, with a decision reportedly on the way "very soon". Five years have passed since outgoing actor Daniel Craig made his final appearance as the MI6 agent in 2021's No Time to Die, and a new instalment is on its way.
Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Prisoners, Dune and Blade Runner 2049) is lined up to direct, but the new Bond actor has not yet been announced. Speculation over who will take on the role has been rife in recent months.
Insider Claims Testing Complete
Hollywood insider Jeff Sneider now claims that the studio behind the project, Amazon MGM, has "completed the testing process", with two actors said to be "part of it". Writing in his newsletter, The InSneider, he said: "On the news front, I'm hearing that Amazon MGM has completed the testing process for James Bond, and while I haven't heard much, I do know that Jacob Elordi and Jack Lowden were part of it."
He added: "I fully expect the studio and director Denis Villeneuve (who loves his young movie stars) to choose Elordi, as the internet has suspected from the very beginning. Stay tuned, as we may get word about 007 very, very soon…"
Names in the Running
Some of the names suggested for the role include Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Callum Turner (Fantastic Beasts), West End star Tom Francis and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Nosferatu). Meanwhile, Deadline reported in August that the shortlist could include anywhere from "five to seven" hopefuls to a figure "in the teens".
In August, author Richard Osman revealed which actor he had heard was being "strongly considered" for the role. Speaking to co-host Marina Hyde on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, 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."
Producer Hints at Timeline
Jack Lowden's credentials appear to fit the role, given his portrayal of MI5 operative River Cartwright in the Apple TV spy thriller Slow Horses. Jacob Elordi is known for playing Nate Jacobs in the HBO series Euphoria.
Bond producer Amy Pascal previously suggested that the announcement could come 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 MGM Studios said: "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."
