Next James Bond Screen Tests: Deadline Names Finalists as 007 Casting Enters Final Stage
The search for the next James Bond has entered its final stage. According to Deadline, Amazon MGM has offered final screen tests to British actors Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Josh O'Connor — with the publication reporting the tests could begin as early as Friday. At least one more unidentified actor is also expected to test, reports say. The final appointment remains unannounced, and the studios are treating all of this as a selection process, not a casting result.
The reported finalists
Deadline named Slow Horses star Jack Lowden, Masters of the Air actor Callum Turner and The Crown's Josh O'Connor as the three actors offered tests, adding that another source believes up to five actors may ultimately take part, the Times of India reported in its summary of the coverage. The Hollywood Reporter separately noted that Euphoria star Jacob Elordi is not among those testing. Coverage in outlets including the BBC and The Guardian stressed the reports remain "neither confirmed nor denied" by the studio.
The Times of India also reported that Citadel star Richard Madden has emerged as a surprise contender in the race, though his name was not among the three actors Deadline listed as testing. Until Amazon MGM makes an official announcement, every name on every list is industry reporting — not a decision.
The team behind the new 007
The tests were originally planned for earlier in the month but were pushed to the end of October because of schedule conflicts among the finalists, the Times of India reported. The next Bond film will be directed by Denis Villeneuve, with Amy Pascal and David Heyman producing and Steven Knight writing the script. Reports suggest 2028 is the earliest the film could be released.
Producer Amy Pascal has reportedly called a casting announcement by the end of 2026 "a good bet", though there is no official timeline for the decision.
Why the world is watching
This will be the first James Bond casting under Amazon MGM's stewardship of the franchise, which is why the selection is being followed so closely: the next 007 will shape years of marketing, storytelling and audience expectations. The tests are understood to assess stunts, camera presence and dialogue, not just acting range.
Whoever takes the licence to kill will inherit one of cinema's most analysed roles — and the decision, when it finally comes, will be one of the biggest entertainment announcements of the decade.
Sources: Deadline; The Hollywood Reporter; BBC; The Guardian; Times of India.