Amazon MGM’s final James Bond screen tests reportedly began in London on Friday, Oct. 23, and could run into next week. Deadline reported that the studio offered tests to at least four actors. Its sources expect Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Josh O’Connor to be three of them.
Amazon MGM hasn’t confirmed who is testing or announced a decision. Reps for the studio, Turner and Lowden didn’t immediately respond to Variety. Variety reported that both actors “appear to be in the mix.”
The tests matter because they’re the last step before a choice. Daniel Craig left the role after five films, ending with No Time to Die in 2021. The studio started its search for his successor in the spring.
Who is reportedly testing for Bond
Three trade outlets have reported on the tests, and they don’t fully agree:
| Outlet | What it reported |
|---|---|
| Deadline | At least four actors got test offers. Lowden, Turner and O’Connor are expected to be three. The fourth is unnamed. |
| Variety | Turner and Lowden appear to be in the mix. Lowden “may now be edging ahead,” the BBC relayed. |
| The Hollywood Reporter | Three to five actors reached the final stage, the BBC said. Tests could start Friday. |
BBC News said the auditions have three parts: stunts, camera presence and dialogue. The studio first planned the tests for early October, Deadline said. The finalists’ scheduling conflicts pushed them back.
Some names linked to the role seem to be out of this round. The BBC said Jacob Elordi isn’t thought to be testing. Its sources said Jack O’Connell may no longer be in contention. Reports over the past year also linked Paul Mescal, Harris Dickinson and Jack Barton to the part. There’s no sign they’re testing now.
Callum Turner has been the bookmakers’ pick for months
Turner, 36, starred in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and Apple TV+’s Masters of the Air. He married singer Dua Lipa at Old Marylebone Town Hall in London on May 31, The Associated Press reported. We profiled him after the wedding.
The Daily Mail has reported, citing an unnamed source, that Turner told friends he’d be the next Bond. Neither Turner nor the studio has confirmed it. Betting odds show what gamblers think, not what the producers have decided.
Jack Lowden’s name keeps coming up
Lowden plays River Cartwright, a young MI5 agent, in Apple TV+’s spy series Slow Horses. His co-star Gary Oldman said in a Canadian TV interview that the filmmakers had already chosen their Bond. Fans read that as a hint about Lowden. Oldman later said he knew nothing about the casting, The A.V. Club reported.
Lowden’s wife, actor Saoirse Ronan, played down the talk in an interview with The Associated Press. She said the couple doesn’t discuss it at home.
Josh O’Connor, the third name in Deadline’s report, played Prince Charles in The Crown. He also starred in the tennis drama Challengers.
Who will choose the next 007, and when
Denis Villeneuve, who made Dune and Dune: Part Two, will direct. Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight wrote the script, and Amy Pascal and David Heyman will produce. Casting director Nina Gold has run the search since Amazon MGM announced it in May.
This is the first Bond film under Amazon MGM’s creative control. The studio gained that control through a joint venture with longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. The deal closed in March 2025.
Nobody has set a date for an announcement. Pascal told Deadline in August that “end of the year is a good bet” for casting news, the BBC reported. Deadline said there’s still no timeline for a final decision. Amazon MGM hasn’t announced a release date either.
For the franchise’s move to Amazon and the earlier shortlists, read our explainer on the next James Bond movie.
