Amazon MGM Studios is holding final auditions in London for the next James Bond, narrowing a crowded field of contenders to a shortlist of actors including Jack Lowden, Callum Turner, and Josh O’Connor ahead of a planned 2028 theatrical release.
Finalists Undergo Screen Tests in London
The search for Daniel Craig’s successor at Amazon MGM Studios has reached its decisive phase. Industry reporting indicates that final screen tests are underway in London, involving stunt work, camera framing, and dialogue performance across a weekend and into the following week.
Timmy. Zendaya. Austin. Florence. Anya. Rob.Denis has a tendency to gravitate toward the biggest, hottest young stars.Jacob Elordi fits that bill, and he’s chasing the tuxedo hard… https://t.co/YmTMSHW4tx
While the studio has declined to confirm specific names publicly, multiple trade reports place Jack Lowden, Callum Turner, and Josh O’Connor among the finalists invited to test for the role. Whispers from industry insiders suggest at least four actors received test offers, though early speculation surrounding Jacob Elordi was dismissed by sources who confirmed he is not participating in the auditions. The audition schedule itself faced prior adjustments, as preliminary camera sessions initially slated for early in the month were postponed due to scheduling conflicts among the candidate pool.
Contenders and Creative Direction under Denis Villeneuve
The shortlisted actors bring varied backgrounds to the franchise. Jack Lowden is known for his role as River in the Apple TV series Slow Horses alongside Gary Oldman, and has appeared on the big screen in Dunkirk. Callum Turner appeared as Major John Egan in Masters of the Air alongside Austin Butler, as well as featuring in Fantastic Beasts. Josh O’Connor won an Emmy Award for playing Prince Charles in The Crown and starred as tennis player Patrick Zweig in Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers alongside Zendaya and Mike Faist.
Production details for the next installment are falling into place behind the scenes. Denis Villeneuve is attached to direct the feature, working from a first draft of the script delivered by Steven Knight, whose hiring was announced in July 2025. Casting director Nina Gold has steered the multi-month audition process alongside producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman.
Production Targets a 2028 Theatrical Release
This casting wave follows a corporate realignment for the iconic spy series. The formal selection process began in the spring following the involvement of Nina Gold, moving through initial summer auditions and an autumn narrowing of the candidate field.
Filming is expected to begin in 2027, with the studio targeting a 2028 theatrical release for the franchise’s first outing since Daniel Craig’s final appearance in No Time to Die, which arrived in cinemas in 2021 after a fifteen-year tenure spanning five films as the British secret service agent.