The search for the next James Bond has officially begun. Amazon MGM Studios confirmed last week that celebrated British casting director Nina Gold — known for her work on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Game of Thrones, and The Crown — is meeting with young actors to find Daniel Craig's successor. The studio stated: “The search for the next James Bond is underway. While we don’t plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we’re excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right.”
This announcement has reignited the usual frenzy of speculation. Historically, the moment a name is floated as a frontrunner, it almost certainly means that actor will not get the role. The rumour mill has already churned through names like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Tom Holland, Harris Dickinson, and Jacob Elordi, with whispers that Callum Turner had already been cast. Now, three new contenders have emerged.
New Contenders in the Running
The first is Jack Lowden, 35, who Gold cast as River Cartwright in the spy series Slow Horses. His spy credentials are impeccable, his charisma is undeniable, and he already has a working relationship with the casting director. He is also married to Saoirse Ronan, who has expressed interest in playing a Bond villain — a potential double act that fans would relish.
The second is Louis Patridge, 23, known for roles in Disclaimer, Paddington 2, and as Edward Guinness in the Netflix series House of Guinness, created by new Bond screenwriter Steven Knight. While his youth might seem a drawback, reports suggest Amazon is looking for a younger actor to commit to a five-to-six film run.
The third is Tom Francis, 26, who has reportedly auditioned for Gold, according to Variety. Francis won a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance as Joe Gillis in Jamie Lloyd's revival of Sunset Boulevard. He also appeared in last year's Jay Kelly alongside George Clooney and made his TV debut in You. His profile — a rising stage star with limited screen exposure — fits the traditional Bond mould.
Historically, the role of Bond has made the actor, not the other way around. Sean Connery was a relative unknown; George Lazenby had barely acted; Roger Moore was a TV star but not a film lead; Timothy Dalton was a stage actor; Pierce Brosnan was best known for a TV series. Only Daniel Craig arrived with notable film credits like Road to Perdition and Munich, but even he became a true leading man only after Casino Royale. Amazon, which took creative control of the franchise last year from long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, may opt for a relatively unknown actor in his late 20s to keep costs down and allow the public to discover a new star. However, casting a known name like Tom Holland would risk audiences struggling to forget his previous roles.
In a predictably self-aggrandizing move, the White House responded to the casting announcement by posting an image of Donald Trump as 007. The post was met with ridicule, with comments like “Pie Another Day” and “License to Groom” alongside an image of Jeffrey Epstein. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is a notable Trump ally, but the 79-year-old former president is unlikely to appear in the 26th Bond adventure — though one can never be entirely sure.
The search continues, and more unfamiliar names will surface in the coming weeks. For now, the next Bond is almost certainly not residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
