Amazon Closes In on Casting Next James Bond

James Bond remains one of the most enduring figures in modern cinema. Since Sean Connery originated the role of Ian Fleming’s British secret agent in 1962’s Dr. No, playing 007 has stood as one of the most coveted assignments in Hollywood. George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig have each shaped the spy across different eras, giving the character a mix of charm, humor, ruthlessness, and vulnerability.

Following Craig’s final performance in 2021’s No Time to Die, the search for the next actor to take over the series is underway. Director Denis Villeneuve will helm the upcoming installment, known informally as Bond 26, alongside casting director Nina Gold. Amazon has not officially announced who will step into the role, but a report from Page Six claims the studio has assembled a shortlist featuring one relative newcomer and five established actors. Screen tests for the candidates are expected to begin in early September.

The Actors in the Running to Play 007

Jack Barton is reportedly the surprise frontrunner for the role. Barton has appeared in Netflix’s Heartstopper and Steven Knight’s historical drama SAS: Rogue Heroes, portraying real-life soldier John Tonkin. He also appeared as Fop 1 in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things. Barton trained at the Oxford School of Drama, and his lower public profile aligns with comments from longtime franchise casting director Debbie McWilliams, who has maintained that Bond works best when played by an actor audiences do not already know intimately.

The other reported contenders carry established profiles across film and television:

• Jack Lowden currently leads Apple TV Plus’ spy thriller Slow Horses as agent River Cartwright.
• Callum Turner recently starred in the World War II miniseries Masters of the Air and appeared in One Night Only.
• Jacob Elordi broke out in Netflix’s The Kissing Booth before shifting to prestige projects, including Euphoria, Priscilla, and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein. Elordi also portrays Heathcliff in an upcoming film adaptation of Wuthering Heights and leads Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars, which drew divided initial reviews from critics.
• Paul Mescal earned acclaim as Connell Waldron in the miniseries Normal People and received an Academy Award nomination for Aftersun. Mescal took on large-scale studio action as Lucius in Gladiator II, plays William Shakespeare in Hamnet, and will portray Paul McCartney in an upcoming Beatles biopic.
• Harris Dickinson has built a diverse body of work in films such as Triangle of Sadness, The Iron Claw, Where the Crawdads Sing, and Babygirl, along with a role as Prince Philip in the series A Murder at the End of the World.

Amazon has not verified any of the names on the reported shortlist. The studio confirmed only that the casting process is progressing, stating that it will provide updates “as soon as the time is right.” The production also brings in screenwriter Steven Knight to work with Villeneuve on the new era of the franchise.

Source: Polygon