James Bond Contender Jack Lowden Wipes Out on a Bike While 007 Casting Heats Up

James Bond casting rumors have a habit of following Jack Lowden into every corner of his career. The latest headline about the Bond contender comes from an unlikely place, a London street where he was caught on camera wobbling off a bicycle. For fans who have spent weeks studying betting odds, it is a very different kind of 007 audition tape.

Lowden, 36, has been one of the most talked-about names in the race to succeed Daniel Craig as the next 007. Amazon MGM Studios has not announced a decision, and the next Bond film is currently scheduled for a 2028 theatrical release. Denis Villeneuve is set to direct, though filming is widely expected to begin in 2027, after ‘Dune: Part Three’ arrives on Dec. 18.

According to TMZ, the outlet obtained video of Lowden rehearsing a scene in London for the Apple TV series ‘Slow Horses’ when he lost his balance on his bike and fell to the ground. The footage runs just over a minute in the clip posted online.

The report adds that a stunt double eventually stepped in to film a more intense scene in which Lowden’s character collides with a taxi. TMZ also noted that the actor is rumored to be on the 007 shortlist alongside Robert Pattinson, Josh O’Connor and Callum Turner, and joked that he may have his work cut out for him if he lands the part.

James Bond contender Jack Lowden takes hard tumble off bike. 🎥: Backgrid https://t.co/BgGubQYyZN

— TMZ (@TMZ) November 9, 2026

The timing is notable because the casting conversation has intensified over the past several weeks. The Hollywood Reporter reported in October that Lowden and Turner were among the finalists being considered, and other coverage described a small group of actors going through final screen tests for ‘Bond 26’ in London.

Bookmakers have followed the buzz. On Oct. 31, Oddschecker listed Lowden as the 4/7 favorite, an implied chance of roughly 64%, with Josh O’Connor in third place. The same report noted that producer Amy Pascal has called a year-end announcement a good bet, which means the wait may not be much longer. Those numbers reflect betting sentiment, not any decision by the studio.

Part of the momentum traces back to Lowden’s ‘Slow Horses’ co-star Gary Oldman, who said in September that the studio had made its choice and that he was rooting for Lowden. Oldman did not say Lowden had actually been selected, and Amazon MGM declined to comment when Variety asked about his remarks. Oddschecker later noted that Oldman explained he was only hoping Lowden would get it.

Lowden himself has stayed careful. He has described the attention as flattering while making clear he does not want to add fuel to the speculation, and in an interview with British GQ he suggested the rumor grew partly because he wore a suit. His tumble off the bike is about as far from a tuxedo moment as it gets.

Lowden’s day job has been part of the Bond story from the start. Reports have pointed to a potential standoff between the two streaming giants, since Amazon wants its Bond while Apple already has its spy in ‘Slow Horses’. Lowden plays MI5 agent River Cartwright opposite Oldman in the series.

If he were cast, he would become the first Scottish Bond since Sean Connery. For now, the footage shows him doing something very River Cartwright, which is falling over and getting back up.

Nothing about a rehearsal fall changes the state of the race. It happened on a working set, a stunt double reportedly handled the tougher taxi collision, and the only verdict that matters will come from Amazon MGM and the Bond producers.

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