MOVIE NEWS – Amazon MGM may already know exactly who will succeed Daniel Craig as James Bond, with only the public reveal still missing. Gary Oldman has spoken with surprising certainty about the secretive casting process, while making it clear he hopes his Slow Horses co-star Jack Lowden is the actor who landed the coveted 007 role.
Few casting decisions have generated as much sustained speculation in Hollywood as the identity of the next James Bond. Daniel Craig ended his run as 007 with 2021’s No Time to Die, and ever since, potential replacements have cycled through headlines at a relentless pace. Interest intensified again in February 2025, when Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli reached an agreement that shifted creative control of the Bond franchise to Amazon MGM Studios.
Jack Lowden has repeatedly appeared among the rumored contenders, alongside Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Tom Holland, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Harris Dickinson. Amazon has refused to publicly narrow the field, leaving fans without confirmation that any of those names are genuinely still under consideration. Oldman’s latest comments, however, suggest the search itself may already be over.
Appearing on Canada’s The Morning Show, Oldman threw his support behind Lowden, his co-star on Slow Horses. “It’s been rumoured that he’s on the shortlist. We’re going to find out pretty soon, aren’t we? Because they have picked him. They have made their choice, but they have not announced it yet. So my fingers are crossed for Jack.”
What makes the comment stand out is Oldman’s confidence. He was not merely discussing who might be a good fit for Bond or repeating the latest betting odds; he spoke as though Amazon MGM has already settled on its new leading man. Whether Oldman has heard something through industry channels or is simply drawing his own conclusion remains unknown.
The mystery may not last much longer either. Producer Amy Pascal recently suggested that the identity of the next 007 could be revealed before 2026 is over. Speaking to Deadline, she described the end of the year as a strong possibility for the announcement.
Pascal has also emphasized that the team is taking an unusually deliberate approach to the decision. Following Daniel Craig is not simply a matter of finding another actor with a similar presence, she explained. The goal is to introduce somebody who feels genuinely different, with enough personality to make the next version of Bond feel exciting rather than like an imitation of what came before.
Several major pieces of the next Bond era are already in place. Denis Villeneuve will direct the upcoming movie once his Dune saga is behind him, while Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is writing the screenplay. If Oldman’s comment reflects genuine inside knowledge, Amazon MGM may now have quietly solved the biggest remaining puzzle as well: the identity of the actor who will become the next James Bond.
Source: Radio Times
