Updated

Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Oct 24

James Bond Final Screen Tests Narrow to 2 Favorites as Producers Weigh 10-Year Commitment

Updated

Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Oct 24

James Bond Final Screen Tests Narrow to 2 Favorites as Producers Weigh 10-Year Commitment

Q: As producers seek a 007 completely different from Daniel Craig, who is the secret fourth actor testing for the iconic role?

The secret fourth actor has not been publicly identified. Multiple trade reports agree that Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Josh O’Connor are among the finalists screen-testing for James Bond, but the remaining name is still being withheld. Deadline described that person only as a “mystery actor,” and other coverage says the testing pool may even extend beyond four people, adding to the uncertainty. There is speculation around several actors, particularly Jacob Elordi, Harris Dickinson, Jack Barton and Paul Mescal, because their names have surfaced in wider Bond chatter. But the strongest reporting cuts against at least some of those theories: The Hollywood Reporter says Elordi is not testing, and Jack O’Connell also appears to be out. That leaves the fourth finalist unconfirmed rather than secretly established in reliable reporting. So the practical answer is that no one outside the studio’s inner circle appears to know for certain. Amazon MGM has kept the last slot tightly under wraps as it completes final screen tests before naming a new 007, potentially by the end of the year.

3 articles · Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Oct 24

Final screen tests for the next James Bond are underway in London, with Jack Lowden and Callum Turner emerging as the leading contenders for Daniel Craig’s successor.
The auditions go beyond stunts and screen presence because Bond producers are effectively choosing an actor for four or five films — a commitment Barbara Broccoli once said can last 10 to 12 years.
That long horizon makes off-screen reliability central to the decision, with producers seeking a disciplined brand ambassador who can avoid scandal, handle intense publicity and work smoothly through roughly nine-month shoots.
The caution reflects past franchise lessons: George Lazenby lasted one Bond film after Cubby Broccoli called his casting a major mistake, and the wider industry has seen multi-film plans derailed by star controversies.