Jack Lowden and Callum Turner Emerge as Clear James Bond Front-Runners as Final Screen Tests Heat Up
The hunt for the next 007 is one of Hollywood’s most closely watched casting searches, and it appears to be entering its final stretch. As the next James Bond announcement draws closer, two names have separated from the pack: Jack Lowden and Callum Turner.
Amazon MGM Studios took creative control of the franchise in 2025, with producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman steering a new era. Denis Villeneuve is directing, Steven Knight is writing the script, and production is expected to start in 2027 with a release planned for 2028.
The latest numbers come from the prediction market Kalshi, where a recent snapshot shows Lowden at 45% and Turner at 36%. Jack Barton sits well behind at 9%, which leaves the race looking like a two-horse contest.
The market has swung wildly in recent weeks, tracking each new rumor and report. In mid-August, Lowden jumped into the lead at 32% after podcaster Richard Osman said an insider told him the ‘Slow Horses’ star was being strongly considered.
By early October, Lowden led Turner 44% to 39%. A Deadline exclusive then reported that he was among the finalists screen testing for the role, which pushed his odds as high as 62% and later into the mid-60s.
Then the momentum faded. Global James Bond Day passed on October 5 without a casting reveal, and by October 18 Lowden and Turner were tied at 32% each. Just days later, Turner briefly overtook Lowden at 45% to 44% before Lowden edged back ahead.
Callum Turner and Jack Lowden are now the clear front runners to be the next James Bond https://t.co/db7hC6bXgl
— Kalshi Film (@Kalshi_Film) October 30, 2026
According to Deadline, the final auditions were scheduled for the week of October 23 to October 30, with Turner, Lowden and Josh O’Connor among the finalists, along with an unnamed fourth actor. Reports said the tests began in London.
Jacob Elordi and Jack O’Connell are reportedly not part of this latest testing round, despite earlier speculation. Amazon MGM has not publicly confirmed any of the candidates.
Casting director Nina Gold is reportedly overseeing the search, and Pascal has said the team is being methodical. She previously suggested that an announcement by the end of the year is a good bet, though that remains an expectation rather than a firm deadline.
Lowden’s rise has been fueled partly by his ‘Slow Horses’ co-star Gary Oldman. In September, Oldman told a Canadian news show that he had heard a rumor the next Bond had been picked, and he said his fingers were crossed for Lowden.
Oldman later walked those comments back, saying he did not actually know who had been chosen. Lowden’s wife, Saoirse Ronan, also responded to the speculation with a joke about Oldman thinking her husband is Bond, without confirming anything.
If Lowden does land the role, he would be the first Scottish actor to play 007 since Sean Connery.
Turner has led the market at several points and has high-profile support. George Clooney said in June that he hopes Turner becomes the next Bond. Kalshi has also pointed out that Turner has been a Louis Vuitton ambassador since 2024 and walked a runway for the brand in 2009, a connection to the fashion world that fits the character’s polished image.
Fans appear to favor Lowden in at least one poll. A ScreenRant audience poll gave him 47.7% of the vote, well ahead of Turner’s 13.4%.
Not every market agrees. On Polymarket, the leading outcome has been that no Bond is chosen at all, at around 34%, with Lowden at 33% and Turner at 18.7%. Traditional bookmakers had Lowden leading at 4/5, with Turner second at 11/4.
Those numbers are a reminder that prediction markets reflect speculation rather than inside knowledge. Kalshi’s Bond market has drawn more than $2.5 million in trading volume, but it can swing sharply on a single rumor.
Several outlets have suggested the announcement could arrive anywhere from the end of October to the end of the year. Because the tests were reportedly taking place through the end of October, the final decision still needs to be made, negotiated and announced.
Until Amazon MGM speaks, everything remains unconfirmed. Whether the role goes to Lowden, Turner, O’Connor or the mystery fourth candidate, the choice will define the franchise for years.
Who would you like to see as the next James Bond?
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