James Bond Casting Reaches Its Final Test: Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Josh O’Connor Are Reportedly in the Mix to Replace Daniel Craig

Few casting searches in Hollywood generate as much heat as the hunt for the next James Bond. Daniel Craig’s run ended with ‘No Time to Die‘ in 2021, and ever since, nearly every British, Irish and Australian actor of the right age has been floated as the next 007.

That speculation has now turned into a real process. Amazon MGM Studios took creative control of the franchise in February 2025, brought in producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman, and hired Denis Villeneuve to direct a film with a screenplay by Steven Knight, with casting director Nina Gold leading the search.

The search appears to be nearing the finish line. According to Deadline, the studio is setting its final screen tests over the next week, with at least four test offers given out, and while unconfirmed, three of the four actors expected to test are Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Josh O’Connor.

The process has been long and deliberate. After two months of meetings, the first round of auditions took place in August, and since then the studio, Pascal, Heyman and Villeneuve have cut the list to a final group and worked out test offers in September. The tests were originally scheduled earlier this month, and they could now begin as early as Friday.

Even with the tests wrapping next week, there is no timeline for a final decision. Most people expect an answer by the end of the year, and producers have indicated that news could arrive before 2026 closes.

Each actor brings something different. Lowden stars in ‘Slow Horses’, and his momentum has been building since August, when author Richard Osman said he was being strongly considered and his co-star Gary Oldman endorsed him as 007. Turner has been a tabloid favorite for years, with credits including ‘Masters of the Air’ and ‘Eternity’, and he is engaged to pop star Dua Lipa. O’Connor, known for ‘Challengers’ and ‘Wake Up Dead Man’, is the name that surprised many people.

The fourth finalist remains unnamed, which has only added to the intrigue. Earlier reports had floated other names, including Jacob Elordi and Jack O’Connell, so the list has clearly shifted over time. It is also worth remembering that casting reports on Bond have been famously unreliable until a script is delivered and tests are complete.

Reports have suggested that Villeneuve wants a fresh face and that the studio is leaning toward a younger actor, possibly in his late 20s or early 30s, who could stay in the role for years. Lowden and Turner are both 36, which fits the range being discussed, though the exact brief has never been confirmed.

Amazon itself has said very little. The studio said the search had just begun when it first confirmed that casting was under way, and that it does not plan to comment on specific details during the process. Pascal has suggested that the next Bond needs to bring something different and exciting while being able to lead the franchise into a new era.

Online prediction markets have turned the guessing game into a daily sport. Recent reporting showed Lowden and Turner running neck and neck, with the option of no Bond being chosen yet also drawing significant interest. Those numbers move quickly with each new report, so they should be treated as chatter rather than evidence.

What is clear is the sheer scale of public attention. The latest report drew hundreds of thousands of views within hours of being shared, which says a lot about how closely fans are following the process.

Once the tests are complete, the studio will need to weigh the results against the vision for the film. Production is expected to begin in 2027, with a target release of November 2028, so there is still time before cameras roll.

For now, the franchise remains in the same suspended state it has been in for years, but with a clearer picture than ever of who might step into the tuxedo.

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