Jack Lowden Emerges as Clear Favorite for James Bond as Final Auditions Commence
The race to become the next James Bond has entered its final stretch, with Amazon MGM Studios reportedly conducting last-round screen tests in London this week. Among the finalists, Jack Lowden has surged to the front, with prediction markets now placing him as the overwhelming favorite. According to financial exchange platform Kalshi, Lowden's odds of landing the iconic role have reached a record high of 65%, up from a mere 3.5% in early August. His closest competitors, Callum Turner and Josh O'Connor, trail significantly at 37% and 17%, respectively. Bookmakers tracked by Oddschecker also list Lowden as the favorite at 8/13, an implied probability of about 62%.
The 36-year-old Scottish actor has become a household name through his role as River Cartwright in Apple TV's Slow Horses, a performance that many fans and pundits view as an extended audition for 007. The surge in his odds followed a Deadline report confirming he was among the finalists screen testing for the part, and was further fueled by comments from his Slow Horses co-star Gary Oldman, who claimed the role had already been cast and expressed hope that Lowden would get it.
Saoirse Ronan Addresses the Speculation
As the rumors intensify, Lowden's wife, four-time Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan, has offered a cryptic response. In an interview with PEOPLE while promoting her new film Bad Apples, Ronan was asked about the Bond chatter. "I mean, well, Gary Oldman thinks he's James Bond, which is its own thing," she said. "We're kind of getting on with our life, to be honest, we have plenty of other things to be dealing with, so yeah, it's not really a subject that's coming up in our house." Ronan also expressed her desire to work with her husband again, this time on stage, noting that Lowden is "so incredible on stage" and that she would like him to "hold my hand a little bit" in that environment. The couple, who met on the set of Mary, Queen of Scots in 2018, have since collaborated behind the scenes as producers on Ronan's 2024 film The Outrun.
The High-Stakes Search for the Next 007
The search for Daniel Craig's successor has been one of the most closely watched casting processes in Hollywood history. Since Craig's final outing in No Time to Die (2021), fans and industry insiders have speculated endlessly about who would take up the Walther PPK. Amazon MGM Studios, which now controls the Bond franchise, has assembled a heavyweight creative team: Denis Villeneuve is set to direct, Steven Knight is writing the script, and Amy Pascal and David Heyman are producing, with a targeted release in 2028. Casting director Nina Gold is overseeing the process.
The finalists — Lowden, Turner, O'Connor, and an unidentified fourth candidate — are reportedly undergoing screen tests that go beyond acting. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the audition process includes a crucial off-screen evaluation: whether the actor has the temperament to be the ultimate team player. Bond is a decade-long commitment that requires not only on-screen charisma but also the professionalism to represent a global franchise. "The actor may not always be playing Bond, but will forever be a Bond," the outlet noted.
The Everyman vs. the Classic Bond
Lowden's appeal lies in his likability and everyman quality, a departure from the suave, posh archetype that has defined the role. His Slow Horses character, River Cartwright, is an idealistic MI5 agent whose disillusionment with the agency mirrors a modern take on espionage. As The Hollywood Reporter observed, Lowden's Bond would be "a rather refreshing idea that would give Bond writers new notes to explore." In contrast, Callum Turner (known for Masters of the Air and Fantastic Beasts) looks the part of a classic Bond — handsome, suave, and posh — but that very predictability could work against him if producers seek someone more original. Josh O'Connor, meanwhile, brings indie credibility from The Crown and Challengers but may lack the action-hero physique traditionally associated with 007.
What a Lowden Casting Would Mean for the Franchise
Should Lowden secure the role, it would signal a notable shift in the Bond franchise's direction. Lowden is not a newcomer to blockbusters — he appeared in Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk (2017) and has built a reputation in theater with productions like Black Watch and Ghosts — but he is not a traditional movie star. His casting would align with Amazon's apparent desire to inject fresh energy into the 60-year-old series, potentially leaning into a more grounded, character-driven approach under Villeneuve's direction. It would also mark the first time a Scottish actor has played Bond since Sean Connery, a fact that has delighted Scottish fans.
The timing of the decision remains uncertain, but with final screen tests wrapping up this week, an official announcement could come soon. Until then, prediction markets will continue to fluctuate, and fans will keep debating whether Lowden's understated charm is the right fit for the world's most famous spy. For now, the actor remains focused on his work, and his wife insists the topic isn't dinner-table conversation. But as the odds suggest, the possibility is becoming harder to ignore.
Comments