Key Highlights:
- The search for the next James Bond is reportedly narrowed to a final four candidates, featuring Jack Lowden, Callum Turner, Josh O’Connor, and an undisclosed mystery actor.
- Jacob Elordi and Jack O’Connell have been ruled out of screen testing, debunking previous reports that positioned Elordi as the frontrunner.
- Screen tests will take place next week under director Denis Villeneuve, casting director Nina Gold, and producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman for the Amazon MGM reboot.
The race to cast the next James Bond has entered a critical stage, with the contender shortlist reportedly whittled down to just four actors for the franchise’s upcoming reboot. The film, which will be directed by Denis Villeneuve following his record-breaking success with Dune: Part Three, will mark a completely new chapter for the 007 series under Amazon MGM Studios. While earlier reports suggested an initial pool of six candidates for screen tests, the field has narrowed significantly ahead of simultaneous in-person auditions scheduled for next week.
Inside the Final Four Screen Tests and Casting Exclusions
According to an exclusive report from Deadline’s Justin Kroll, the final four contenders preparing for screen tests are Scottish actor Jack Lowden, Callum Turner, Josh O’Connor, and one yet-to-be-revealed mystery candidate. Auditions were originally intended to take place earlier in the month, but scheduling conflicts prompted production to push the sessions back to ensure that all final actors could test at the same time.
The narrowed list effectively puts an end to widespread speculation regarding Australian actor Jacob Elordi. While a report earlier in the week from The InSneider claimed the Euphoria star had become the final choice, subsequent reporting from Kroll and confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter clarified that neither Elordi nor Jack O’Connell are testing for the part. Elordi had previously addressed the swirling speculation surrounding his potential involvement, telling Extra TV: “That’s beautiful… I just like that people maybe want to put me in their movies. That makes me really glad.”
The Creative Team and Frontrunner Momentum
The decision-making panel leading the search includes director Denis Villeneuve, seasoned casting director Nina Gold, and producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman. Together, they are tasked with selecting the successor to Daniel Craig, whose long-running tenure redefined the box office scale and dramatic weight of the iconic MI6 agent.
Among the named contenders, Jack Lowden has widely emerged as a fan and industry favorite, largely due to his acclaimed performance as River Cartwright in the espionage series Slow Horses. The buzz surrounding Lowden intensified after his co-star Gary Oldman appeared to inadvertently suggest the role was his. Lowden’s wife, actress Saoirse Ronan, recently addressed the commentary during an interview with the Associated Press, downplaying the notion that any casting had been finalized: “Well, Gary Oldman thinks he’s James Bond… [That’s] its own thing. We’re kind of getting on with our life, to be honest. We have plenty of other things to be dealing with. So, yeah, it’s not really a subject that’s coming up in our house, to be honest.”
Why This Matters
This upcoming project represents a landmark transition as the first official James Bond feature developed since Amazon MGM assumed stewardship of the franchise. By appointing Denis Villeneuve—fresh off commercial milestones that saw Dune: Part Three shatter IMAX pre-sale records upon ticket launch—the studio is signaling an ambitious, prestige-driven direction for the property. With the final four screen tests wrapping up at the end of the month, industry observers anticipate that the studio could formally reveal the next 007 before the end of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the actors in the final four for the new James Bond?
The reported shortlist consists of Jack Lowden, Callum Turner, Josh O’Connor, and a fourth unidentified candidate whose identity has not yet been publicly disclosed.
Is Jacob Elordi going to play James Bond?
No. Despite earlier reports linking the actor to the role, subsequent reporting confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter states that Jacob Elordi is not participating in screen tests for the film.
Who is directing the new 007 reboot?
The upcoming James Bond reboot will be directed by Denis Villeneuve, working alongside casting director Nina Gold and producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman.
