The search for the next James Bond has officially begun, with celebrated British casting director Nina Gold confirmed to be meeting with young actors for the coveted role. The rumour mill surrounding who will replace Daniel Craig as 007 has been active since before the actor handed in his keys to the Aston Martin DB5, with names from Idris Elba to Tom Holland having been mentioned over the past decade. Now, finally, some concrete news: Gold, known for her star-finding abilities on shows like Game of Thrones, The Crown, and Slow Horses, will work with producers and director Denis Villeneuve to find their man.
Callum Turner
Just six months ago, Callum Turner seemed a safe bet after reports emerged that the 35-year-old Brit was "blabbing all over town" that he would be donning the famed tuxedo. These reports were bolstered by rumours that his pop star fiancee Dua Lipa had secured the job of recording the next Bond theme. Turner is famous and busy, but not too famous and busy, meaning that while viewers may recognise him from hit shows and blockbusters such as The Capture and Emma, he has the availability required to take on an all-consuming, multi-year franchise.
Jacob Elordi
Jacob Elordi, 28, is now considered a "shoo-in" after allegedly meeting with Villeneuve and Amazon executives. Pop culture commentator Marina Hyde has heard that Elordi has moved into "pole position" for the role. The Wuthering Heights and Euphoria star, recently nominated for his first Oscar for Frankenstein, is tall, handsome, and bankable enough to take on the part. However, few young male A-listers would be eager to play the same character for 10 years straight, and Elordi has options. There is also the issue of his Australian accent, though advocates point out that George Lazenby, also Australian, played 007 for one film.
Harris Dickinson
Harris Dickinson, 29, is another name that has appeared in rumours, following blockbuster outings like The Triangle of Sadness and Babygirl. The British actor has the acting chops to make this role stick, and if he and Gold are heading into an audition room, there is a decent chance he will come out on top. Dickinson is no stranger to nabbing coveted parts; soon he will play John Lennon in Sam Mendes's Beatles biopics. Despite heavy-hitting projects, Dickinson remains alluringly offline, offering a blank canvas to disappear into the perfectly tailored tux.
Jack Lowden
Jack Lowden, 35, lacks the star power of his competitors but has flown under the radar for most of his career, spanning films like Mary Queen of Scots and TV shows like the BBC's War & Peace. According to Saorise Ronan, Lowden would make a superb James Bond, a belief she holds so strongly that she would sacrifice her own hypothetical role in the franchise. Ronan is also his wife. Many agree with her after watching Lowden's turn as spy River Cartwright in Slow Horses, a show cast by Gold herself. This man has charisma in abundance, which may be the most important quality.
Louis Partridge
Louis Partridge, 23, would be the youngest 007 in history, which seems ludicrous. However, producers are reportedly circling a much younger incoming superspy. Partridge has a connection to Steven Knight, who is writing the new Bond script, having starred in Knight's Netflix series House of Guinness. Given Knight's propensity to collaborate with the same people, he may have put in a good word. Producers might be thinking about longevity: if Partridge were to do six or so Bond films over the next 15 years, he would still be under 40. He would also be considerably cheaper than some others on this list.
