More importantly, Puck reported on September 4 that Amazon MGM was sending out test-deal offers before formal auditions expected later in the autumn. The outlet described the supposed frontrunner lists as “bogus” and said anyone claiming to know the next Bond’s identity did not actually know.
That timeline directly conflicts with Oldman’s belief that the decision has already been made. Producer Amy Pascal also told Deadline in August that choosing an actor by the end of 2026 was “a good bet,” rather than a completed task. She said the filmmakers were being “really, really methodical.” Bond casting, it appears, remains a process rather than a sealed envelope sitting on an executive’s desk.
Amazon MGM film chief Courtenay Valenti has similarly said the studio is approaching the decision “with care and deep respect.” That is understandable. Picking Bond tends to generate several years of public argument before the actor has ordered a drink or damaged an expensive car.
Why is Jack Lowden being linked with Bond?
Lowden, 36, already has considerable experience playing a British intelligence officer. In Apple TV’s Slow Horses, he stars as River Cartwright, an MI5 agent whose ability varies sharply depending on the day, the assignment and the number of avoidable mistakes involved.
That role has made him an obvious candidate for speculation, particularly as his name has appeared more frequently in recent casting discussions. Oldman, who plays the dishevelled intelligence veteran Jackson Lamb in the series, is clearly supporting his colleague. His endorsement is sincere, even if it is not an official communique from Amazon.
Other actors repeatedly connected with the role include Callum Turner and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Taylor-Johnson dominated the rumour cycle for a long stretch, but no studio confirmation ever arrived. Theo James has meanwhile played down his own chances, saying that at 41 he now considers himself “definitely too old” for the part.
The lack of confirmed candidates has not slowed the speculation. It has merely ensured that almost any British actor within a flexible age range can expect to be fitted for a theoretical tuxedo.
Who is controlling the Bond casting process?
Amazon MGM formally began searching for Craig’s successor in spring 2026. Variety reported that the studio hired casting director Nina Gold, whose credits include Game of Thrones, The Crown and five Star Wars films.
The next production has an established senior creative team:
- Denis Villeneuve will direct.
- Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is writing the screenplay.
- Amy Pascal and David Heyman are producing.
- Tanya Lapointe is serving as executive producer.
No release date has been announced.
This casting decision carries extra significance because it will be the first controlled creatively by Amazon MGM. Amazon and the Broccoli family still co-own the intellectual property, but Amazon assumed creative control in 2025. Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, whose family guided the film series for more than half a century, no longer have final authority over decisions such as who plays 007.
According to the Associated Press, the 25 Bond films produced by Eon Productions had earned about $7.6 billion worldwide when that change took place. Amazon is therefore choosing the face of one of cinema’s most valuable franchises, not merely filling a vacancy in a well-tailored government department.
How long has Bond been away from cinemas?
Craig’s version of the character died at the end of 2021’s No Time to Die, where a missile strike removed most opportunities for an ambiguous return. The closing promise that “James Bond will return” made clear that the franchise would continue with another actor.
Almost five years later, audiences still do not know who that actor will be. Even after the casting is settled, the film must pass through pre-production, filming and post-production before reaching cinemas.
The longest previous gap between Bond releases came after Timothy Dalton’s final appearance in 1989’s Licence to Kill. Pierce Brosnan debuted in GoldenEye in 1995, producing a wait of roughly six years and five months. With no date set for Villeneuve’s film, that record is increasingly vulnerable.
Oldman may ultimately prove correct that an announcement is close, and Lowden may even emerge with the role. For now, though, the firmer evidence points to a studio still arranging auditions and considering its options. His fingers can remain crossed. Amazon MGM’s paperwork appears to have other plans.
