The high-stakes search to find the next cinematic James Bond is officially entering its final, decisive phase. According to an exclusive report from Deadline, Amazon MGM Studios is setting its ultimate round of screen tests over the next week to select Daniel Craig’s successor.
With screen tests slated to begin as early as Friday and run through the end of the month, the studio has reportedly narrowed the field down to a final group. While official representatives at Amazon MGM Studios could not be reached for comment, industry insiders reveal that at least four test offers were extended. Among the shortlist of frontrunners expected to test are high-profile British actors Jack Lowden, Callum Turner, and Josh O’Connor, alongside an unconfirmed fourth contender.
The final auditions were originally scheduled for earlier in October but were briefly postponed so all finalists could test around the same time due to scheduling conflicts.
The rigorous casting process began earlier this year when casting director Nina Gold joined the project to kick off nationwide searches. Following initial auditions in August, producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman—alongside newly tapped director Denis Villeneuve—winnowed down the list before extending final test offers in September.
With creative control firmly in hand, Amazon MGM Studios has taken a meticulous, top-down approach to rebuilding the iconic franchise. Beyond securing Pascal and Heyman to produce and Villeneuve to direct, the studio tapped acclaimed screenwriter Steven Knight last summer to pen the script, ensuring the story was locked in before testing actors for the titular role.
While there is no formal timeline for an official casting announcement once testing wraps, industry consensus points toward a final decision being made before the end of the year.
Source: Compiled from various sources
