The Next James Bond Just Got a Lot Closer To Being Cast, and an Unknown Actor Is Leading the Pack

The search for Daniel Craig’s replacement has dragged on for years now, fueling endless speculation, fan casting wars, and a rotating cast of rumored contenders. Every few months, a new name surfaces, only for the conversation to reset all over again with little concrete progress.

That cycle finally appears to be breaking. After years of false starts and shifting rumors, the process has reached a stage where actual names are being tested in front of the people who matter most.

Six actors are reportedly set to screen-test for the role of James Bond, according to Page Six, with Jack Barton, Callum Turner, Jack Lowden, Jacob Elordi, Paul Mescal, and Harris Dickinson all confirmed for the shortlist. Screen tests are scheduled to begin in early September, marking the most concrete step yet toward finally naming Craig’s successor.

Perhaps the biggest surprise on the list is Barton, a relative unknown best recognized for a small role in ‘Poor Things’ alongside television work on ‘SAS: Rogue Heroes’ and Netflix’s ‘Heartstopper.’ Despite his lack of star power compared to the rest of the group, multiple reports have described him as the current frontrunner, with insiders reportedly referring to him as “the one.”

Barton was discovered by casting director Nina Gold as she scoured the UK specifically for unknown talent to fill the role, a strategy with real historical precedent. Both Sean Connery and Craig were relatively unestablished actors before landing the part, allowing each of them to define Bond on their own terms rather than fight against preexisting audience expectations.

Turner and Lowden have reportedly built the most sustained momentum among the group in recent weeks, with producer Richard Osman previously noting that Lowden was being “strongly considered” for the role. Turner, known for ‘One Night Only,’ has consistently ranked among the strongest names throughout the broader casting conversation.

Elordi, Mescal, and Dickinson round out the shortlist with more established profiles, each offering a different flavor of leading-man appeal. Elordi has built momentum through projects like ‘Euphoria,’ ‘Priscilla,’ and ‘Wuthering Heights,’ while Mescal broke through with ‘Normal People’ and earned an Oscar nomination for ‘Aftersun’ before moving into blockbuster territory with ‘Gladiator II.’

Dickinson brings arguably the most eclectic résumé of the bunch, spanning ‘Triangle of Sadness,’ ‘The Iron Claw,’ ‘Babygirl,’ and Steve McQueen’s ‘Blitz.’ The final decision reportedly rests with director Denis Villeneuve, along with longtime Eon Productions producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, and screenwriter Steven Knight.

Notably, one name that continues to circulate outside the official shortlist is Jack O’Connell, star of ‘Sinners’ and ’28 Years Later,’ whose involvement has been persistently rumored even though he wasn’t included among Page Six’s six confirmed names. That suggests the field may still be somewhat fluid even as September’s screen tests approach.

With a decision reportedly drawing closer, fans have plenty to debate in the meantime, particularly around whether an unknown like Barton can truly pull off what Connery and Craig managed decades apart. Either way, the wait for 007’s next chapter finally feels like it’s entering its final stretch.

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