Jack Lowden Leads the Race to Become the Next James Bond as Final Screen Tests Begin
The race to name the next James Bond has reached its final stage, with Jack Lowden emerging as the bookmakers’ favourite after reports that final screen tests for Amazon MGM Studios’ new 007 film were held in London in late October 2026. Trade reports named Lowden, Callum Turner and Josh O’Connor as the actors offered final tests, with at least one further actor still unidentified. No actor has been cast yet, and Amazon MGM has not confirmed any of the names.
Why Lowden moved ahead of the other finalists
Lowden’s surge followed a Deadline report, published on 22 October 2026, that the search had narrowed to a small group of finalists. Prediction market Kalshi put Lowden at about 58% after an initial jump to 62%, ahead of Turner at 37% and O’Connor at 17%, according to its own market update. Bookmakers told a similar story, with William Hill pricing Lowden at 4/6 in the days after the report, while Turner sat second in most lists.
Lowden is best known to television audiences as River Cartwright in Apple TV+’s Slow Horses, where he plays an MI5 agent opposite Gary Oldman. That spy-series pedigree has fuelled much of the speculation, although it is not evidence of a casting decision. Oldman himself later made clear he was rooting for his co-star rather than confirming any studio decision, after an earlier remark was widely misread as confirmation.
What the London screen tests actually involve
Reports describe three components to the final tests: stunts, camera presence and dialogue. The process is being overseen for a film directed by Denis Villeneuve, with Steven Knight writing the screenplay and Amy Pascal and David Heyman producing. Producer Amy Pascal told Deadline earlier in 2026 that an announcement by the end of the year was “a good bet”, while stressing that the team was being methodical about replacing Daniel Craig.
The next film will be the first Bond outing under Amazon MGM’s full control of the franchise, five years after Craig’s final film, No Time To Die, in 2021. That history explains why the studio is testing so carefully: the chosen actor is expected to carry the role across several films. Until Amazon MGM speaks, every name on every list remains industry reporting, not a result.
The contenders, the odds and the mystery fourth name
| Contender | Best known for | Reported position |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Lowden | Slow Horses | Favourite: about 58% on Kalshi, 4/6 with William Hill |
| Callum Turner | Masters of the Air, Fantastic Beasts | Second: about 37% on Kalshi |
| Josh O’Connor | The Crown, Challengers | Third named finalist: about 17% on Kalshi |
| Unidentified actor | Not publicly verified | Not publicly verified |
Turner, who starred in Masters of the Air and the Fantastic Beasts films, has been a long-running contender and was described by some outlets as the earlier favourite. O’Connor, who won an Emmy for playing Prince Charles in The Crown and later starred opposite Zendaya in Challengers, is the most unexpected of the three named names. The mystery fourth candidate matters because the trades disagree on the total number testing, with estimates ranging from four to five.
Two names that dominated earlier speculation are reported to be out of this final round: Jacob Elordi and Jack O’Connell were not among those testing, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Their absence is a reminder of how quickly a Bond shortlist can change, and why odds alone should never be read as a casting announcement.
What happens next for Bond 26
If the reported timetable holds, an announcement could come before the end of 2026, in line with Pascal’s earlier expectation. The film itself remains untitled, with no release date announced and no cast members formally confirmed. That leaves the market, the trades and the audience in the same position: watching for an official word from Amazon MGM.
For now, Lowden’s lead is real in the betting and prediction markets, but it is not a contract. The only announcement that will settle the race is the studio’s own, and until then the tuxedo remains unclaimed.
Questions readers are asking about the next James Bond
Has Jack Lowden been cast as James Bond? No. He is reported to be screen testing and leads the betting markets, but Amazon MGM has not announced a casting decision.
Who else is testing for the role? Callum Turner and Josh O’Connor are the other two named finalists in trade reports, plus at least one unidentified actor.
When will the next James Bond be announced? No date is confirmed, but producer Amy Pascal said earlier in 2026 that an announcement by the end of the year was “a good bet”.
Who directed the last Bond film and who directs the next? Daniel Craig’s No Time To Die (2021) was his final outing; Denis Villeneuve is set to direct the next, untitled film.
Is the mystery fourth finalist publicly known? No — that actor’s identity is not publicly verified, and reports differ on whether four or five actors are testing in total.
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