The sixth season of Slow Horses concluded with a cliffhanger that has set the rumour mill ablaze: the apparent demise of River Cartwright, played by Scottish actor Jack Lowden. The timing could hardly be more convenient, as speculation over who will succeed Daniel Craig as James Bond reaches a fever pitch.
Based on Mick Herron's novels, the Apple TV+ series follows the misfits of Slough House, a dumping ground for disgraced MI5 agents under the acerbic leadership of Jackson Lamb, portrayed by Gary Oldman. This season proved particularly brutal, with a Russian hit squad targeting the team, claiming fan favourites Struan Loy, JK Coe, and Emma Flyte. But the most shocking loss was saved for the finale.
In the closing moments, River, having survived multiple assassination attempts, arrives at his grandfather's house to reunite with his love interest, Sid (Olivia Cooke). As he prepares a bottle of wine, he collapses, apparently poisoned by residue on his hands from a crowbar he had moved moments earlier. Gasping for air, he calls out Sid's name, and the screen cuts to black.
The ambiguity is deliberate. A sneak peek at the upcoming seventh season shows Standish (Saskia Reeves) asking Lamb about River, to which Lamb quips: "I got a postcard. 'Weather's lovely in the afterlife. Sunset's to die for. Love and hugs'." Yet readers of Herron's novels know that River survives his Novichok poisoning in the books, leaving the door open for a return.
A convenient exit?
Whether or not River is truly gone, the timing of his potential exit aligns neatly with the Bond casting process. Lowden has long been among the favourites to take over the 007 mantle, alongside Callum Turner, Jack Barton, and Jacob Elordi. If this is indeed the end of his Slow Horses tenure, the Scottish actor would be contractually free to step into the iconic role.
Producer Amy Pascal recently told media that "the end of the year is a good bet" for the announcement of the next Bond. "We are being really, really methodical," she said. "Having worked with Barbara Broccoli at the studio, I mean, Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow. And it's got to be something really different that is stirring and exciting and different."
Adding fuel to the fire, British author and TV presenter Richard Osman claimed on his The Rest Is Entertainment podcast in August that he had insider knowledge suggesting Lowden was "strongly considered" for the role. While such leaks should be taken with a grain of salt, they have only intensified speculation.
Lowden's filmography includes 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. His range, from period drama to gritty espionage, makes him a credible candidate for a reinvented Bond.
The next Bond film, Bond 26, is being written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, with production expected to begin in 2027 and a release planned for 2028. The franchise is at a pivotal juncture, needing to balance tradition with reinvention, and Lowden's name continues to surface in that conversation.
For now, fans of Slow Horses can look forward to a seventh series, expected in autumn 2027. Whether River Cartwright will be part of it remains uncertain, but the possibility that his exit paves the way for a new 007 is a tantalising prospect. As the saying goes, from MI5 reject to MI6's top agent? Not long to find out.
