James Bond is officially back, as Denis Villenueve’s new reboot gets closer to entering production. The Dune director is poised to completely reinvent the decades-old spy-thriller franchise, fresh with a new timeline, a new studio, and a new actor taking over the lead role as the iconic MI6 agent.
Naturally, every British actor between the ages of 20 and 50 has had their name thrown in the ring to potentially become the new James Bond. Now, a new bombshell report suggests that Amazon is closer than ever to casting the next 007. While we don’t know exactly who the studio will cast yet, it looks as though Denis Villenueve’s reboot will have a different approach to James Bond than previous films.
Amazon Has Narrowed the Next James Bond Down to Four Actors
According to a new report from Deadline, Amazon has narrowed down its search for the next James Bond to four actors. The first of these is Josh O’Connor, who rose to prominence playing a young Prince Charles in Netflix’s historical drama, The Crown. More recently, O’Connor has worked with a revolving door of acclaimed directors, including Steven Spielberg in Disclosure Day and Rian Johnson in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. The actor is 36 years old and is native to the United Kingdom.
Second on Amazon’s reported shortlist for the next James Bond is Callum Turner. The London-born 36-year-old started out as a fashion model, but is now a rising star in television and film. Turner is best known for his performances in films like The Boys in the Boat and Eternity. He also recently starred alongside Monica Barbaro in One Night Only.
The third actor on the list is also the most heavily rumored of the bunch. Slow Horses’ Jack Lowden is 36 years old and the only Scottish actor on the shortlist (though most James Bond fans know that Sean Connery, the first actor ever to play the character on the big screen, was also Scottish). Lowden is also known for his work in films like Dunkirk and Fighting With My Family.
The fourth person on Amazon’s shortlist to play the next James Bond is the most mysterious of them all. According to Deadline’s report, there is a candidate besides O’Connor, Turner, and Lowden, but their name remains a mystery. This could be one of any number of actors already rumored for the role, including Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Paul Mescal, Regé-Jean Page, and James Norton. Because this individual’s name remains unknown, however, their inclusion on the list of potential actors doesn’t tell us very much.
Nevertheless, Josh O’Connor, Callum Turner, and Jack Lowden all share plenty of similarities that hint at Amazon and Denis Villenueve’s direction with the upcoming film. While no one can say for certain which of these men (if any of them) will play 007, one thing is certain: the next James Bond will be a stark departure from previous iterations of the character.
The Next James Bond Will Be Very Different From Previous Versions
Daniel Craig as James Bond in No Time To DieImage via Nicola Dove / © MGM / © Danjaq / Courtesy Everett Collection
Based on the three known candidates, we can ascertain that the next James Bond will be surprisingly different from previous iterations. Six actors have played the role in the past: Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig. After more than 60 years and 25 films, it looks as though the franchise is looking to reinvent its main character, though perhaps not in every way.
All three actors are not exactly what one would expect from James Bond. In the past, the British super-spy has been portrayed as an effortlessly good-looking debonair charmer, who looks just as comfortable playing a game of baccarat as he does racing an Aston Martin along a narrow cliff face. Josh O’Connor, Calum Turner, and Jack Lowden don’t particularly fall into that category.
The three actors named by Deadline are all reasonably good-looking men, but portray a more unique look than Pierce Brosnan or Daniel Craig, for example. They are all more unassuming, making it easier to believe them playing undercover agents than previous iterations of James Bond. It may be that Denis Villeneuve is looking to lean more into the espionage angle of the franchise rather than the debonair stylings of other 007 actors.
O’Connor, Turner, and Lowden all have several notable similarities as well. All three men are thirty-six years old, giving audiences a clear picture of how old Amazon intends to make the rebooted James Bond. Each is also over six feet tall. The three actors have also all appeared in acclaimed films or television series, earning praise for their performances. No matter who gets the role, all three have the skills to pull it off.
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Which of Amazon’s Shortlist Will Be the Next James Bond?
Slow Horses’ Jack Lowden stars as River CartwrightImage via Apple TV
While the race could theoretically go to anyone (especially with that pesky mysterious fourth candidate), there is an apparent frontrunner for the role of the next James Bond. Amazon Studios and Denis Villeneuve have yet to comment on the rumored casting, but most audiences are in agreement that Jack Lowden seems to be the most likely actor to step into the lead role of the upcoming reboot.
Lowden’s Slow Horses co-star Gary Oldman infamously set the internet ablaze when he made a comment implying he knew who the next James Bond would be. Although the Academy Award winner later clarified that he had only heard rumors, the fervor that followed his comments left many fans convinced that Jack Lowden would be a perfect James Bond. He has, after all, already mastered playing a spy, and seems excited about the possibility of playing the world’s most famous secret agent.
Many polls and surveys suggest that the Slow Horses actor is indeed the most popular candidate to take over the role of 007. In fact, CBR readers recently named Lowden their favorite pick for James Bond, beating out Josh O’Connor and Calum Turner in a landslide. If Amazon goes by the popular vote, the role would undoubtedly go to him. Of course, this by itself is far from confirmation that Lowden will be cast.
Reports suggest that Amazon is hosting screen tests for its shortlist of candidates this week. If these rumors are true, they may reach their decision and make someone an offer in just a matter of days. This doesn’t mean, however, that the news will come out that quickly. Villenueve and his team might want to wait until they have a more public opportunity to make the official announcement. Of course, given how closely the media has been watching the production, it’s also possible that the casting will leak before they get the chance to announce it.
In addition to James Bond, it looks as though Denis Villeneuve and Amazon are working on casting the first Bond girl of the new era. Plenty of actresses are reportedly in contention to join the film, including Sydney Sweeney, Margaret Qualley, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Saoirse Ronan, who happens to be married to Jack Lowden. However, filmmakers will likely hold off on casting this character until they know who is playing Bond, giving them a chance to run chemistry reads with potential actresses.
James Bond fans have been waiting a very long time for news about the upcoming reboot, but the wait is almost over. If reports prove true, Amazon may officially cast its next 007 before the end of next week. After that, it’s only a matter of time before the news is made public.
Cast
Daniel Craig, Pierce Brosnan, Sean Connery, Timothy Dalton, Roger Moore, David Niven, George Lazenby
Created by
Ian Fleming
Latest Film
No Time to Die
Character(s)
James Bond