Five years after Daniel Craig's final appearance as James Bond, the question surrounding the franchise's future has become increasingly urgent.
Who will inherit the role of 007?
For years, the conversation has involved established British performers, international stars and actors whose careers have only recently attracted significant attention.
This time, the latest reports involve more than another round of speculative casting suggestions.
On October 22 and 23, 2026, several major Hollywood publications reported that Amazon MGM Studios was preparing a final round of screen tests.
The auditions could begin in London as early as Friday, October 23, before continuing into the following week.
The development suggests that the studio is approaching a meaningful decision.
However, Amazon MGM has not publicly confirmed the complete list of candidates or announced its preferred actor.
The distinction between an audition and a casting decision remains essential.
Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Josh O'Connor are among the reported contenders
Three names appear repeatedly in the latest industry reports.
Jack Lowden, the Scottish actor best known internationally for Slow Horses, is one of the most prominent.
Callum Turner, whose credits include Fantastic Beasts and Masters of the Air, is also reportedly being considered.
Josh O'Connor, known for The Crown and Challengers, is another actor identified by Deadline and TheWrap.
According to those publications, the three performers are among the actors offered screen tests.
The reports also mention at least one additional contender whose identity has not been disclosed.
However, the total number of finalists remains uncertain.
Some sources suggest four candidates, while others indicate that between three and five actors could participate.
Variety says Turner and Lowden appear to be involved, while emphasizing that the full group is not yet established publicly.
These differences matter.
The reported candidates should not be treated as a complete and officially verified shortlist.
More importantly, none of the named actors has been confirmed as Daniel Craig's successor.
Why Jack Lowden has attracted so much attention
Lowden brings an immediately recognizable connection to the espionage genre.
In Slow Horses, he plays River Cartwright, a young MI5 officer whose career has been compromised by a professional failure.
River works with a group of marginalized intelligence agents under the supervision of Jackson Lamb.
The series regularly places him in dangerous situations involving surveillance, chases and rapidly changing threats.
That experience could be useful for an actor seeking to portray James Bond.
However, River and Bond are very different characters.
River is frequently impulsive, vulnerable and unable to maintain control over events.
Bond has traditionally projected considerably greater confidence, even when his judgment is questionable.
Lowden's background in espionage drama therefore provides relevant experience without automatically making him the most suitable candidate.
Speculation intensified after comments from Gary Oldman, his Slow Horses co-star.
Oldman appeared to suggest that Lowden was a serious contender before clarifying that he was expressing a personal hope.
An actor's preference should not be confused with information from the casting team.
The new trade reports provide a stronger indication that Lowden is under consideration, but they do not establish that he has won the role.
Callum Turner offers another possibility
Turner has been linked to the next James Bond for several months.
The British performer played Theseus Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts franchise and appeared in Masters of the Air.
His career also includes smaller and more character-focused productions.
That range could matter when approaching a role involving large-scale action and quieter dramatic scenes.
Bond requires an actor capable of dominating a spectacular sequence while remaining compelling during an apparently ordinary conversation.
Turner's presence and physical bearing fit certain traditional interpretations of the character.
But casting Bond involves more than identifying someone who looks comfortable in a tailored suit.
Craig's performance introduced a more visibly damaged and confrontational version of the secret agent.
The next era could continue that approach or move in a different direction.
When Turner was asked earlier in 2026 about the speculation, he declined to comment.
That refusal was not evidence that he had been cast.
The reports surrounding the October auditions now provide a more substantial indication of his possible involvement.
They still offer no guarantee of the final outcome.
Josh O'Connor could bring a different interpretation
O'Connor has developed a reputation for portraying emotionally complicated and sometimes uncomfortable characters.
His international breakthrough included playing Prince Charles in The Crown.
He later appeared in Challengers, Luca Guadagnino's drama about ambition, personal relationships and professional tennis.
Much of his screen work relies on revealing insecurity beneath a controlled public appearance.
That ability could suggest an interesting direction for James Bond.
The character has long been associated with charm, competence and an almost exaggerated sense of control.
Yet the Craig films also explored grief, vulnerability and the personal consequences of espionage.
O'Connor could potentially develop those psychological qualities.
However, this is a creative possibility rather than a description of the new movie.
No public screenplay establishes whether Villeneuve intends to make Bond more introspective, aggressive or traditionally heroic.
O'Connor's involvement in the screen-test stage has been reported by industry publications but remains unconfirmed by Amazon MGM Studios.
The final tests reportedly examine action, dialogue and screen presence
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the auditions are expected to include three principal components.
The first involves physical performance and stunt-related ability.
James Bond remains closely associated with fights, pursuit sequences and situations requiring considerable physical credibility.
The studio needs to understand how potential leads perform when the material becomes demanding.
The second component concerns presence on camera.
A performer may excel in television drama or independent film without necessarily delivering the effect a franchise wants from its central character.
Screen tests allow filmmakers to observe how an actor moves, occupies the frame and commands attention.
The third element is dialogue.
Bond has a distinctive way of speaking, combining confidence, irony and carefully controlled reactions.
The challenge is not simply to imitate a familiar catchphrase.
An actor needs to establish an individual interpretation while preserving enough of the character's identity to remain recognizable.
Reports describe the tests as relatively comprehensive.
However, no footage of the auditions has been released.
There is therefore no verified basis for comparing the actual performances of the candidates.
Nina Gold oversees the casting process
The search is being overseen by casting director Nina Gold.
Her previous work includes Game of Thrones, The Crown and numerous major film productions.
Gold's involvement was established before the latest reports about final auditions.
Her responsibilities involve identifying and assessing performers suited to the creative requirements of the production.
That task carries unusual importance for James Bond.
The studio is not simply choosing the lead of an isolated movie.
The decision could define the franchise for several years, although no specific multi-film commitment has been announced publicly.
Gold's experience with complicated casts and prominent dramatic roles makes her a significant participant in the process.
However, her involvement offers no reliable indication of a preferred actor or an already finalized decision.
Denis Villeneuve is directing the new Bond movie
The next James Bond film will be directed by Denis Villeneuve.
The Canadian filmmaker's work includes Arrival, Blade Runner 2049 and the Dune films.
His movies often emphasize visual composition, sound and carefully constructed dramatic tension.
That background creates intriguing possibilities for a franchise known for international locations, action sequences and confrontations involving powerful adversaries.
However, the studio has not detailed the precise tone or visual style of the upcoming Bond film.
It would be premature to describe the project as definitively darker or more realistic than its predecessors.
Steven Knight is writing the screenplay.
The British writer is particularly associated with Peaky Blinders.
Amy Pascal and David Heyman are producing.
The creative team therefore combines experience in large-scale filmmaking with work built around morally complicated characters.
The eventual actor will need to fit the filmmakers' specific interpretation.
The decision is unlikely to depend solely on popularity or resemblance to previous performers.
Amazon MGM Studios faces a major strategic decision
The next Bond will be introduced under a different creative management structure from the one that oversaw the previous era.
In February 2025, Amazon MGM Studios reached an agreement to obtain creative control of the franchise.
Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, who had long supervised the films, transferred that responsibility through a new management arrangement.
The move represented an important change for a franchise historically associated with the Broccoli family.
For decades, the producers exercised substantial influence over the direction, casting and identity of the movies.
Amazon MGM now occupies the central position in determining the next phase.
Choosing a new lead actor is therefore both a creative and an industrial decision.
It will indicate how the company intends to position James Bond for contemporary audiences while preserving more than sixty years of screen history.
Speculation about additional productions and potential spin-offs has accompanied the change in management.
However, the current casting reports concern the next theatrical Bond film.
They do not establish a confirmed schedule for television series, prequels or separate franchise projects.
Jacob Elordi and Jack O'Connell reportedly will not test
The latest industry coverage also provides context for some earlier casting rumors.
Jacob Elordi, known for Euphoria, had been discussed as a potential candidate.
Jack O'Connell, whose recent credits include Sinners, was another name associated with the role.
The Hollywood Reporter and TheWrap report that neither actor is expected to participate in the final screen-test round.
That information reflects reporting from industry sources.
Amazon MGM Studios has not published an official list of eliminated candidates.
It should therefore not be presented as a formal public rejection of either performer.
Other frequently discussed names include Aaron Taylor-Johnson, James Norton and Harris Dickinson.
Their appearance in earlier speculation does not establish that they received final audition invitations.
The full group of actors considered throughout development should not be confused with the smaller number reportedly offered screen tests.
Daniel Craig leaves a substantial legacy
The next actor will inherit a character profoundly shaped by Craig's five movies.
His tenure began with Casino Royale in 2006.
It continued through Quantum of Solace, Skyfall and Spectre before ending with No Time to Die in 2021.
Those productions changed several conventions of the franchise.
They placed greater emphasis on continuity, personal relationships and the physical consequences of an intelligence officer's work.
Craig also portrayed a Bond whose vulnerability could be as significant as his ability to survive dangerous encounters.
That interpretation altered audience expectations.
His successor will need to avoid simply reproducing Craig's mannerisms.
At the same time, the new actor must preserve enough of Bond's identity to remain recognizable.
The franchise's history demonstrates that different performers can bring very different qualities to the same character.
Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig each established a distinct interpretation.
The next selection is therefore not merely a search for someone who resembles the previous Bond.
It is a decision about which performer can support a new creative era.
When will the next James Bond be announced?
Amazon MGM Studios has not announced an official date for revealing the next Bond actor.
Industry sources expect the decision could be made public before the end of 2026.
That expectation is not a formal commitment from the studio.
The final screen tests are reportedly taking place in London beginning around October 23 and continuing into the following week.
The results could allow the filmmakers and studio to compare a small number of contenders more directly.
A formal casting announcement would still be required before anyone can be identified as the new 007.
No confirmed filming date or theatrical release date has accompanied these latest casting reports.
Predictions of a possible 2028 release remain estimates rather than an announced schedule.
As of October 24, 2026, the verified position remains straightforward: Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Josh O'Connor are serious reported candidates for the final audition stage, but none has been officially selected.
James Bond is still waiting for his next face.
And after years of speculation, the answer may finally depend less on rumors and more on what the contenders can actually deliver in front of the camera.
