The search for the next James Bond has reached its final auditions, according to reports that Amazon MGM Studios has not confirmed. Deadline reported on Thursday, October 22, that at least four actors have been invited to screen-test for the role of 007, and named three of them: Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Josh O’Connor. The fourth actor has not been named in any report, and no casting decision has been announced.
The tests were held at Bray Studios in Berkshire, the historic production house on the River Thames that Amazon MGM Studios acquired in 2024, according to The Hollywood Reporter and the Daily Mail’s coverage on October 25. The Mail reported that Turner, the “Fantastic Beasts” actor, kicked off the final round of tests on Friday, with Lowden and O’Connor testing across the weekend. The tests were described as comprehensive, assessing the actors on stunts, screen presence and dialogue. All three named actors are 36 years old.
Each of the named men would be a first-time Bond. Turner is known for “Masters of the Air” and the “Fantastic Beasts” films. Lowden stars in the Apple TV+ spy series “Slow Horses,” and would be the first Scottish Bond since Sean Connery. O’Connor won an Emmy for playing Prince Charles in “The Crown” and co-starred in “Challengers.”
The decision is reported to sit with casting director Nina Gold, producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman, and director Denis Villeneuve. Gold was photographed at Bray Studios as the tests took place, the Scottish Sun reported. Steven Knight, the creator of “Peaky Blinders,” is writing the film, referred to for now as Bond 26. Deadline reported that a decision is hoped for by the end of 2026, but that an announcement is not imminent; Pascal said in August that the end of the year is “a good bet” for the process to conclude, according to the Mail.
Amazon MGM has confirmed none of the reporting. The studio’s only public statement on the casting remains the one it issued earlier this year: “The search for the next James Bond is underway. 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.” Amazon declined to comment on the screen-test reports, according to TheWrap, which matched Deadline’s reporting.
The role has been vacant since Daniel Craig’s fifth and final film, “No Time To Die,” in 2021. Whoever is chosen will become the seventh actor to play Bond in the official film series, after Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Craig. Until Amazon MGM announces a name, every name attached to the part — including the three reported to have tested at Bray this weekend — remains reporting, not casting.
Where the Reports Differ
- Jacob Elordi: tabloid coverage this weekend said whispers about the Australian actor are “resurfacing.” Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter and reporter Justin Kroll all report that Elordi is not testing — and neither is Jack O’Connell. Insider Jeff Sneider had named Elordi a finalist on October 20.
- The lists: The Hollywood Reporter’s account names two testing actors, Turner and Lowden. Deadline names three, adding O’Connor, and says at least four invitations went out.
- The odds: the Scottish Sun reported that Ladbrokes made Lowden the bookies’ favourite at 4/7, while Turner’s odds stood at 2/1. The prediction market Kalshi moved Lowden to 58 percent after Deadline’s report.
- Gary Oldman, Lowden’s “Slow Horses” co-star, said in September that the producers had already chosen Lowden — “They have picked him. They have made their choice, but they have not announced it yet” — a claim no other report has confirmed, and one that sits against reports of final tests still being held this weekend.
Sources: Deadline; The Hollywood Reporter; Daily Mail; TheWrap; The Scottish Sun; Amazon MGM Studios.
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