Five years after Daniel Craig said goodbye to James Bond, Hollywood may finally be close to choosing his replacement. Final screen tests are reportedly underway in London, and the latest betting odds have placed Scottish actor Jack Lowden ahead of several names that once appeared destined for the role.
Lowden, best known for playing MI5 agent River Cartwright in Slow Horses, has become the leading name in the race for 007. Callum Turner remains his closest challenger, with Josh O’Connor also reportedly invited to audition. At least one other candidate has yet to be publicly identified.
On October 23, Lowden was listed at 8/13 by William Hill, compared with 3/1 for Turner and 7/1 for O’Connor. The latest James Bond betting odds followed reports that the search had reached its final stages.
Amazon MGM Studios hasn’t confirmed any candidates or announced a decision. However, the recent developments suggest the search that began after Craig’s departure in 2021 is approaching a conclusion.
Latest Odds Put Jack Lowden Ahead
The betting market has changed considerably throughout 2026. Callum Turner previously occupied the top position, but Lowden moved ahead as reports connected him to the final round of auditions.
William Hill’s October 23 odds, published through Oddschecker, placed the candidates as follows.
| Actor | Odds | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Lowden | 8/13 | Slow Horses, Dunkirk |
| Callum Turner | 3/1 | Masters of the Air, Fantastic Beasts |
| Josh O’Connor | 7/1 | Challengers, The Crown |
| Richard Madden | 8/1 | Bodyguard, Game of Thrones |
| Jack O’Connell | 12/1 | Sinners, Unbroken |
| Aaron Pierre | 14/1 | Rebel Ridge |
| Jacob Elordi | 14/1 | Euphoria, Saltburn |
| Harris Dickinson | 16/1 | Babygirl, The Iron Claw |
| Henry Cavill | 20/1 | Man of Steel, The Witcher |
| Louis Partridge | 20/1 | Enola Holmes |
| Aaron Taylor-Johnson | 20/1 | Bullet Train, Kick-Ass |
Odds recorded October 23, 2026. Betting prices change, and a high position in the market doesn’t establish that an actor has received an audition.
The market has also experienced some unusual changes. Richard Madden recently attracted renewed betting interest despite no confirmed report that he had reached the final auditions. Meanwhile, Jacob Elordi and Jack O’Connell remain among the names quoted by bookmakers even though recent trade reports suggest neither received a final screen test.
Jack Lowden Could Trade One British Spy for Another
Lowden already knows his way around fictional British intelligence. In Apple TV’s Slow Horses, he plays River Cartwright, a capable but frequently frustrated MI5 agent whose career repeatedly lands him in trouble.
Cartwright is considerably less polished than James Bond. He makes mistakes, suffers embarrassing setbacks and spends much of his time under the supervision of Jackson Lamb, the disheveled intelligence veteran played by Gary Oldman.
Yet the series gives Lowden plenty of opportunities to handle action scenes, tense confrontations and the mixture of confidence and vulnerability that has become increasingly important to modern spy characters.
His name gained additional attention after Oldman appeared to suggest that the next Bond had already been chosen. The actor later clarified that he was expressing hope for his co-star rather than revealing an official decision.
Lowden also appeared in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk and earned critical attention for his portrayal of Siegfried Sassoon in Benediction. At 36, he would be close to the age Daniel Craig was when he first took the role.
Callum Turner Remains a Serious Contender
Callum Turner has spent much of the year near the top of the betting markets, and the final audition reports suggest his candidacy remains active.
The British actor played Major John Egan in the Second World War drama Masters of the Air and appeared as Theseus Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts films. His work spans military drama, period romance and large studio productions.
At the Berlin Film Festival in February, Turner faced questions about the Bond rumors but declined to discuss his chances. He has continued to avoid any public confirmation of an audition.
Turner and Lowden are both 36, and both have experience in major productions without having previously carried a franchise as recognizable as James Bond.
The two actors were named among the potential finalists in reports of final screen tests published on October 23. The auditions were expected to begin that week, although the identities of everyone invited remained uncertain.
Josh O’Connor Has Entered the Final Conversation
Josh O’Connor is a less obvious candidate, particularly for anyone who still associates James Bond with the effortless confidence of Sean Connery or Pierce Brosnan.
His portrayal of Prince Charles in The Crown demonstrated his ability to play complicated, emotionally restrained characters. In Challengers, opposite Zendaya and Mike Faist, he displayed a sharper, more provocative side.
O’Connor has also received an unusually relevant endorsement. Daniel Craig expressed support for the possibility of his Wake Up Dead Man co-star taking over the role, although the conversation was lighthearted rather than an official recommendation.
His reported invitation to audition coincided with a considerable change in the betting market. Oddschecker recorded his price at 10/1 earlier in the week before it shortened to 7/1 on October 23.
The reported final audition group also includes an unidentified fourth candidate. Jack Barton, known for Heartstopper, has attracted speculation, but his participation remains unconfirmed.
Why Are Some Favorites Missing From the Final Tests
Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Henry Cavill, Idris Elba and Jacob Elordi have all attracted considerable attention during the search for Daniel Craig’s replacement. Recent reporting, however, has shifted toward a smaller group of actors.
Elordi is an interesting example. The Australian actor has appeared prominently in betting markets, helped by his international profile and performances in Euphoria and Saltburn. Yet recent casting reports indicate that he hasn’t received a final screen test.
Jack O’Connell faces a similar situation. His name remains on the betting boards, but reports suggest he is outside the current audition group.
Henry Cavill has a particularly long association with the franchise. He auditioned for Casino Royale before Craig secured the role, and fans have continued to mention him as a potential Bond ever since.
Bookmaker prices can continue to feature recognizable actors long after industry reports have moved toward other candidates. A name appearing in the odds isn’t proof of serious consideration by the producers.
Amazon Wants a Different James Bond After Daniel Craig
The next James Bond film will introduce major changes behind the camera as well as a new leading actor.
In 2025, Amazon MGM Studios assumed creative control of the franchise after longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson stepped away from their previous responsibilities. The studio subsequently appointed Amy Pascal and David Heyman as producers.
Denis Villeneuve, director of Dune and Blade Runner 2049, will direct the next film, with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight responsible for the screenplay. The confirmed production team represents a significant change after decades of Bond films overseen by the Broccoli family.
Producer Amy Pascal has acknowledged the difficulty of replacing Craig. In an August interview, she described the casting process as methodical and said the new interpretation needed to feel different from its predecessor.
Craig’s five films gave Bond a more physically vulnerable personality, beginning with Casino Royale in 2006 and concluding with No Time to Die in 2021. His final appearance also provided an unusually definitive ending for the character.
Whoever takes the role next will have to establish a new identity for Bond without the benefit of continuing the previous storyline.
When Will the Next James Bond Be Announced?
An announcement could arrive before the end of 2026. In August, Pascal said the end of the year was a reasonable expectation for news about the new actor, although Amazon has yet to announce an official date.
The final screen tests reportedly began on October 23 and were expected to continue into the following week. A casting decision could follow those auditions, but the studio hasn’t committed to a public timetable.
Production on Bond 26 is expected to begin in 2027, with a possible theatrical release in 2028. Neither the release date nor the identity of the new 007 has been officially confirmed.
For now, Jack Lowden has the advantage in the published betting odds, Callum Turner remains close behind, and Josh O’Connor has joined the reported final audition group. One unidentified candidate could still change the picture entirely.
After five years without a new Bond film, fans may finally get an answer to the casting question before another year passes.
