Culture 3 min read By Mason Emerson
James Bond Casting Down to Three Actors, Insider Claims
A new industry report claims the race to become the next 007 has narrowed to Jacob Elordi, Jack Lowden and an undisclosed third actor, with an announcement possibly coming between late October and early November.
The search for the next James Bond has reportedly narrowed to three actors, according to an industry insider. Jordan Ruimy of World of Reel said the shortlist for the role of 007 now consists of Jacob Elordi, Jack Lowden and an undisclosed third actor. Ruimy added that an official announcement could arrive anytime between the last week of October and early November.
The claim was echoed by Jeff Sneider of The InSneider, who reported that Elordi and Lowden were among the actors who recently completed screen tests for the role. Sneider also suggested that director Denis Villeneuve has a tendency to gravitate toward the biggest, hottest young stars, noting that Elordi fits that bill and is chasing the tuxedo hard.
The 26th instalment in the long-running spy franchise will be directed by Villeneuve and written by Peaky Blinders creator Stephen Knight. It will be the first James Bond film since Amazon took over the franchise last February. The search for a new 007 officially began in May, and since then numerous actors have been linked to the role vacated by Daniel Craig, who bowed out in 2021's No Time to Die.
Producer Amy Pascal, who is overseeing the new Bond film at Amazon, has said the new 007 will be cast by the end of 2026. She described the process as being really, really methodical, adding that Craig is a hard act to follow and that the next iteration must be something really different that is stirring, exciting and different.
Not everyone is convinced by the reported frontrunners. Charlie Higson, a recent Bond author, said last month that Elordi was too tall for the role and that Lowden would be an unconvincing choice. Higson argued that with Craig you can believe him kicking the shit out of someone, and that audiences have to believe that with Bond.
Debbie McWilliams, the franchise's longtime casting director who worked on Bond films for over 40 years before retiring, has also said she does not want to see rumoured hopefuls Jacob Elordi, Callum Turner or Harris Dickinson become 007 because we now know so much about them.
Other potential candidates have fallen away for various reasons. Tom Holland is reportedly unable to pursue the role due to his Marvel contract, while Taron Egerton has ruled himself out. Callum Turner has dodged red carpet questions about his involvement, as has Elordi.
Gary Oldman has claimed that the new James Bond has already been cast and has backed his Slow Horses co-star Lowden for the role. It has also been reported that Bond bosses are looking at House of the Dragon's Ewan Mitchell as the villain for the next film.
The speculation comes as the franchise enters a new era under Amazon's ownership, with Villeneuve and Knight tasked with reinventing the character for a new generation of moviegoers. The identity of the next 007 remains officially unconfirmed.
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