James Bond finalists to screen-test for 007 role in London this weekend
Reports say a group of three to five finalists, reportedly including Callum Turner and Jack Lowden, will test for the role vacated by Daniel Craig.
At a glance
- Callum Turner and Jack Lowden are reportedly among actors screen-testing for James Bond in London this weekend.
- Denis Villeneuve will direct and Steven Knight will write the script for Amazon MGM Studios, which bought the rights in 2022.
- Daniel Craig vacated the role after 2021's No Time to Die; the film is reportedly positioned for a 2028 release.
A small group of actors, reportedly including Callum Turner and Slow Horses star Jack Lowden, is expected to screen-test for the role of James Bond in London this weekend, according to reports from the Hollywood Reporter and Variety.
The trade publications, citing several sources, said the finalists will appear in front of cameras for tests built around three elements: stunts, camera presence and dialogue. Reports differ on how many actors remain in contention, putting the number of finalists at between three and five.
The role has been vacant since Daniel Craig stepped down after 2021's No Time to Die. Despite speculation, the Hollywood Reporter said Sinners' Jack O'Connell and Wuthering Heights star Jacob Elordi are not testing.
Villeneuve to direct, Knight to write
Dune film-maker Denis Villeneuve is set to direct the next instalment for Amazon MGM Studios, which acquired the series rights as part of an $8.45bn (£6.9bn) deal in 2022. Peaky Blinders writer Steven Knight will pen the script.
Amazon MGM has neither confirmed nor denied the casting reports. It referred the Hollywood Reporter to an earlier statement saying the search for the next Bond is under way and that it does not plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, but would share more news with 007 fans when the time is right.
In April, Amazon film executives urged fans to be patient about the announcement, describing the decision as one the company is taking with care and deep respect. Courtenay Valenti, the company's head of film, said the team did not take the responsibility lightly and called it a dream of a lifetime.
Villeneuve, described as a diehard Bond fan, has said the chance to add to the franchise is what pulled him away from the Dune series that consumed much of the past decade of his career. He told Empire he wanted a "very powerful rocket" to carry him away from Arrakis after Dune: Messiah, which premieres in December, and that he intends to be rigorous rather than complacent with the Bond material.
It is more than 20 years since the last full screen test for Bond, when future Superman Henry Cavill was reported to be a finalist before the part went to Craig, who first appeared in 2006's Casino Royale. Speculation has intensified since Villeneuve was revealed as director in 2025, and the film is still reportedly positioned for a 2028 release.
Source: The Guardian World.
Questions and answers
- Who is in the running to be the next James Bond?
- Reports name Callum Turner and Jack Lowden among three to five finalists screen-testing in London. Amazon MGM has neither confirmed nor denied the casting reports.
- Who will direct the next James Bond film?
- Denis Villeneuve, the Dune film-maker, is set to direct for Amazon MGM Studios, with Peaky Blinders writer Steven Knight penning the script. The film is reportedly positioned for a 2028 release.
- When did Daniel Craig last play James Bond?
- Craig stepped down after 2021's No Time to Die, having first appeared as 007 in 2006's Casino Royale. His departure left the role open.
