What's happened
Final screen tests for the next James Bond are under way in London, with Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Josh O’Connor among those reportedly in the running. Tests cover stunts, camera presence and dialogue as Amazon MGM Studios finalizes who will inherit the 007 role.
What's behind the headline?
Key angles to watch
- The selection process is highly methodical, with producers seeking a performer who can redefine Bond for a new era. The emphasis on screen tests signals a push for tangible on-screen presence rather than nostalgia.
- Competing narratives from outlets reflect differing emphasis: some highlight frontrunners like Turner and Lowden, others caution that the final decision remains unsettled as tests proceed.
- The decision is positioned as pivotal for Amazon MGM Studios’ strategy to refresh a flagship IP, potentially reshaping the tone and style of future films to align with evolving audience expectations.
Implications for readers
- A new Bond could shift box-office dynamics and marketing approaches for the franchise.
- Fans may anticipate not only who plays Bond but who will perform the theme song, and how the film’s director’s vision meshes with the casting.
How we got here
Amazon MGM Studios now controls the Bond franchise after a $8.45bn deal in 2022. Casting has been intensely watched, with producers aiming to select a new Bond by year-end and insisting the decision will be made with care and respect for the franchise’s legacy.
Our analysis
BBC Business and The Guardian report on current auditions and finalists. The Scotsman provides a regional perspective on frontrunners and public speculation. The Guardian notes the involvement of Denis Villeneuve as director and Steven Knight as screenwriter, while BBC and Deadline emphasize the test components and the ongoing timeline.
Go deeper
- Who among the reported finalists is your vote for Bond and why?
- When do you think the final decision will be announced given the ongoing screen tests?
More on these topics
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Denis Villeneuve - Canadian-French film director
Denis Villeneuve OC CQ is a French Canadian film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is a four-time recipient of the Canadian Screen Award for Best Direction, for Maelström in 2001, Polytechnique in 2009, Incendies in 2011 and Enemy in 2013.
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Callum Turner - English actor
Callum Robilliard Turner (born 15 February 1990) is an English actor. After working as a fashion model, he began working in film and television. He had lead roles in the drama film Queen and Country (2014) and the mystery miniseries Glue (2014), and playe
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Daniel Craig - English actor
Daniel Wroughton Craig ( CRAYG; born 2 March 1968) is an English actor. He gained international fame by playing the fictional secret agent James Bond in the films Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015) and No Time to Die (2021). After training at the National Youth Theatre in London and graduating from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1991, Craig began his career on stage. He began acting with the drama The Power of One (1992), and had his breakthrough role in the drama serial Our Friends in the North (1996). He gained prominence for his supporting roles in films such as Elizabeth (1998), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), Road to Perdition (2002), Layer Cake (2004) and Munich (2005). In 2006, Craig played Bond in Casino Royale, a reboot of the Bond franchise that was favourably received by critics and for which Craig was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Since then he has acted in many films, including the fantasy The Golden Compass (2007), the drama Defiance (2008), the science fiction Western Cowboys & Aliens (2011), the mystery thriller The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) and the heist film Logan Lucky...
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Jack Lowden - Scottish actor
Jack Andrew Lowden is a Scottish actor. Following a four-year stage career, his first major international onscreen success was in the 2016 BBC miniseries War & Peace, which led to starring roles in feature films.
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Steven Knight - British screenwriter
Steven Knight CBE is a British screenwriter and film director. Knight wrote the screenplays for the films Closed Circuit, Dirty Pretty Things, and Eastern Promises, and also directed as well as wrote the films Locke and Hummingbird.
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Barbara Broccoli - American film producer
Barbara Dana Broccoli OBE is an American-British film producer known for her work on the James Bond film series.
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Amazon MGM Studios - Film distributor
Amazon Studios is a television and film producer and distributor that is a subsidiary of Amazon. It specializes in developing television series and distributing and producing films. It was started in late 2010.
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James Bond - Fictional character
The James Bond series focuses on a fictional British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short-story collections.