Callum Turner and Jack Lowden Pull Ahead in the Race To Become the Next James Bond
The hunt for the next James Bond is one of Hollywood’s most closely watched casting searches, and it’s finally nearing the finish line. With Amazon MGM Studios now in creative control of the franchise, fans have spent months debating who will step into 007’s tailored suit next.
The creative team behind the next film is already in place. Denis Villeneuve is directing from a script by ‘Peaky Blinders’ creator Steven Knight, with Amy Pascal and David Heyman producing, and Amazon MGM confirmed in May that the search for the new Bond was underway.
As that search heads into its final stretch, 2 names have clearly pulled ahead. According to prediction market Kalshi, Callum Turner and Jack Lowden are now the clear front runners to be the next James Bond.
A recent snapshot of Kalshi’s market showed Lowden on top at 45%, with Turner close behind at 36%. ‘Heartstopper’ star Jack Barton was a distant third at 9%. The lead has changed hands more than once. Just days earlier, Kalshi’s own news site reported that Turner had briefly overtaken Lowden at 45% to 44%, showing how tight the race has become.
The odds have moved alongside major casting reports. Deadline reported that Lowden and Turner were 2 of the 4 actors offered final screen tests, with Josh O’Connor named as the third confirmed contender.
Callum Turner and Jack Lowden are now the clear front runners to be the next James Bond https://t.co/db7hC6bXgl
— Kalshi Film (@Kalshi_Film) October 30, 2026
Those tests were believed to have started in London on October 23, and some trade reports suggested as many as 5 actors may have been offered a chance to test. Amazon MGM has not made any formal announcement, though Kalshi noted that a decision could be coming soon.
O’Connor briefly climbed to 29% on Kalshi after the screen test reports before falling back to around 20%. Despite an endorsement from Daniel Craig, support for him never fully took off.
Lowden has a strong following among Bond fans. He has played an intelligence officer in ‘Slow Horses’, a series about failed MI5 agents, and supporters point to his stunt work and his fit for the world of the British Secret Service. His fan support shows up in polls as well. A ScreenRant audience poll favored Lowden with 47.7% of the vote, well ahead of Turner’s 13.4%.
Turner’s momentum has come from a different direction. Speculation grew around his Louis Vuitton campaign, with Men’s Journal suggesting it could be a sign he had already won the role, and The Sun noting that Ian Fleming mentioned the brand in his novels.
Kalshi pointed out, however, that Turner has been a Vuitton ambassador since 2024 and walked a runway for the brand back in 2009. That makes the partnership less of a clue than some fans have suggested.
Other names are still on the board, although with much lower odds. Kalshi lists ‘The Diplomat’ star David Gyasi and Barton in single digits, along with Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Aaron Pierre and Theo James.
There’s still no confirmed start date for filming, and the film’s release timing hasn’t been officially announced. Fan site The James Bond Dossier suggests production is likely to begin in 2027, with a theatrical release before 2028 looking unlikely.
Prediction markets can swing quickly, and none of these numbers guarantee who Amazon MGM will choose. Until the studio makes its announcement, the race between Turner and Lowden is likely to keep fans guessing.
Who would you like to see become the next James Bond?
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