Amazon MGM Studios assumed full creative control of the James Bond franchise in 2025 through a joint venture with producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, making the identity of the next 007 the primary question on fans’ minds.
Seven actors have officially portrayed James Bond, with Daniel Craig being the most recent before he hung up his badge in 2021’s No Time to Die. The role has remained vacant, but a shortlist of potential candidates was recently revealed.
The Shortlist Has Been Revealed
The shortlist includes Jack Lowden (Slow Horses), Callum Turner (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald), Paul Mescal (Gladiator II), Jack Barton (Heartstopper), Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), and Harris Dickson (Outer Banks). Reports indicate that Lowden and Barton have emerged as the leading contenders.
Interestingly, both actors have experience in iconic game franchises. While Lowden starred in Battlefield 1, Barton voiced the character Messmer the Impaler in Elden Ring.
According to PageSix, Bond 26 director Denis Villeneuve and casting director Nina Gold are seeking a relatively unknown actor for the role, a criterion Barton easily meets given his limited filmography. Screen tests for these candidates are reportedly set to begin this month, with official confirmation likely soon.
Barton is rapidly building his reputation, starring in Heartstopper, SAS: Rogue Heroes, and Yorgos Lanthimos’ Oscar-winning 2023 film Poor Things. Despite delivering a standout performance as Messmer in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, this remains his only video game credit.
Who Will Be Our Next Bond?
With Barton leading the speculation as the next James Bond, closely followed by Dunkirk‘s Lowden, excitement is mounting. As one of the most anticipated announcements in media history, fans are eagerly awaiting every update.
It has been over five years since the last Bond film graced cinemas, and with no official casting confirmed, fans understandably feel frustrated. The next star must fill some very large shoes, and we can only hope the right choice is made as screen tests commence.
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