The race to succeed Daniel Craig as James Bond has a new frontrunner, thanks to an unexpected source. Richard Osman, the British television presenter and author of the Thursday Murder Club novels, used his podcast The Rest Is Entertainment to claim he has heard from an insider that Scottish actor Jack Lowden is being "strongly considered" for the role.
"Someone told me for definite who the new Bond is the other day, but I mean that’s happened before," Osman said. "The name I’ve heard is Jack Lowden." He added that it is "definitively not a 'he’s definitely got it' thing", but that Lowden "would be an incredible Bond" with "real Daniel Craig energy".
Lowden, 36, is best known for playing River Cartwright in the Apple TV+ spy series Slow Horses. His film credits include Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk, Mary Queen of Scots (2018) and Benediction (2021). Later this year he will appear as Mr Darcy in Netflix’s new adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
This is not the first time Lowden’s name has entered the Bond conversation. Earlier this year, Euronews Culture noted that he would be an ideal candidate, citing his spy credentials, charisma, and his existing rapport with casting director Nina Gold, who cast him in Slow Horses and is reportedly attached to Bond 26. Lowden is also married to Saoirse Ronan, who has expressed interest in playing a Bond villain.
In 2022, while promoting Slow Horses, Lowden dismissed the rumours as "lovely" but doubted their validity. That scepticism is worth keeping in mind: the Bond audition process is notoriously secretive, and history shows that once a name leaks, the eventual choice is often someone else entirely.
What the Bond casting pattern suggests
The franchise has traditionally favoured rising stars over established A-listers. Sean Connery was a relative unknown before Dr. No; George Lazenby had barely acted; Roger Moore was a household name from television but not a film star; Timothy Dalton had a strong stage career but limited screen fame; Pierce Brosnan was best known for a TV series. Only Daniel Craig arrived with significant big-screen credits, yet Casino Royale still made him a leading man.
Given that established stars command higher salaries, the odds favour Amazon – which took creative control of the franchise last year from long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson – choosing a relatively unknown actor in his late twenties. But Amazon could also buck the trend and pick a more recognisable name. If they do, Lowden remains a strong contender.
One predictable hurdle: the British tabloids. When Craig was announced in 2005, headlines mocked his blond hair with phrases like "Blond Bond", despite Roger Moore also being blond. Lowden, with his strawberry blond hair and reddish beard, would likely face a barrage of "Ginger Bond" headlines, tapping into the UK’s peculiar cultural fixation on red hair.
Osman’s claim comes as producer Amy Pascal recently said that "the end of the year is a good bet" for announcing the new actor. "We are being really, really methodical," Pascal said. "Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow. And it’s got to be something really different that is stirring and exciting and different."
For now, the smart money is on patience. As producers have hinted, an announcement may come before 2025. Until then, Lowden remains a compelling – if unconfirmed – name in the mix.
