Next James Bond Search Reportedly Narrows to Three Actors as Final Screen Tests Near

Everyone has a favorite for the next James Bond, but only one actor gets to order that first martini shaken, not stirred. The speculation has practically become its own franchise, with every new casting rumor giving fans another reason to argue about who belongs behind the wheel of the Aston Martin. For the actors whose names keep coming up, getting fitted for a tuxedo probably feels like an invitation to answer the same question for the rest of the year.

Behind all that speculation, the people responsible for deciding what comes next for 007 have been assembling. Denis Villeneuve is directing the next installment, with Amy Pascal and David Heyman producing and Steven Knight writing the screenplay. That leaves the most public-facing piece of the puzzle, and a new update suggests the wait for some movement could finally be ending.

According to new reports, final screen tests for the next James Bond could begin as early as Friday, October 23, and continue into next week. At least four actors have reportedly received test offers, with Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Josh O’Connor believed to be among those expected to participate. Those three names remain unconfirmed, and Amazon MGM has not publicly confirmed the reported testing plans.

When Will the Next James Bond Be Announced?

+4

Getting the finalists in front of a camera is a big step, but fans may want to keep their casting bets open a little longer. According to the report, there is no set timeline for choosing the next 007 once these tests are complete, although a decision is generally expected before the end of the year. Whether that also means a public announcement before 2027 remains to be seen.

The reported lineup gives Villeneuve and the producers some interesting choices, with Lowden, Turner and O’Connor all having survived a search that began months ago. Casting director Nina Gold joined the project in the spring, and the first round of auditions reportedly took place in August after two months of meetings. The team then narrowed its choices and began working out test offers in September, bringing the search to this last hurdle. There is also a fourth tuxedo in the mix, with at least one reported test offer still unaccounted for by the names currently circulating. That leaves room for a surprise, even as the search appears to be closing in on its answer.