A Hollywood insider has claimed that Amazon MGM has completed the testing process for the next James Bond, with actors Jacob Elordi and Jack Lowden reportedly among those involved. The revelation comes as speculation continues over who will succeed Daniel Craig as the iconic MI6 agent.
Jeff Sneider, writing in his newsletter The InSneider, said he had heard that Amazon MGM has finished testing actors for the role. He named Elordi and Lowden as having been part of the process, adding that he expects director Denis Villeneuve to choose Elordi.
Insider Expectations for the Next 007
“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,” Sneider wrote. “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.”
The franchise has featured six actors in the role across 25 official Bond films, beginning with Sean Connery in Dr No (1962) and most recently Daniel Craig, whose final outing was 2021’s No Time to Die. Casting director Nina Gold has previously said the next Bond should “ooze sex appeal” and be young enough to commit to multiple films.
Lowden and Elordi in the Frame
Earlier this year, presenter and author Richard Osman said on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast that he had heard a particular actor was “strongly considered” for the role. “The name I've heard is Jack Lowden,” he said. “It is definitely not a 'he's definitely got it' thing. He is definitely being strongly considered. I think he'd be amazing.”
Lowden is known for playing MI5 agent River Cartwright in the Apple TV+ series Slow Horses, while Elordi is best known for his role as Nate Jacobs in HBO’s Euphoria. Other names previously linked to the role include West End star Tom Francis and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
Decision Timeline and Studio Response
Bond producer Amy Pascal has hinted that a reveal could come by the end of the 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, something stirring and exciting.”
Amazon MGM Studios, which is reported to have paid $1 billion for the Bond rights, said in a statement: “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.” The final decision rests with Villeneuve and Amazon MGM, and an announcement could come soon.
