Final screen tests for the James Bond role will take place this weekend — media reports

The key facts

Final screen tests for the Bond role will take place this weekend, possibly as early as Friday — The Hollywood Reporter
Deadline: at least four offers to screen-test have been made; among those expected are Lowden, Turner and O'Connor
There is no timeline for announcing a final decision; producer Amy Pascal previously said that 'the end of the year is a good bet'

Final tests this week

Final screen tests for the role of the new James Bond will take place this weekend, possibly as early as Friday, The Hollywood Reporter reports. According to the outlet, between three and five actors have made it to the final stage. Deadline notes that the tests were supposed to take place in early October but were postponed due to scheduling conflicts. The tests include three components: stunts, camera work and dialogue scenes.

Who is on the list of contenders

According to Deadline, citing sources, at least four final offers to screen-test have been made; although this is unconfirmed, 'three of the four expected to test are Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Josh O'Connor'. Variety writes that Lowden ('Slow Horses') and Turner ('Masters of the Air') 'appear to be in the mix', and suggests that Lowden may be coming to the fore. Josh O'Connor is known for his role as Prince Charles in 'The Crown' and for the 2025 film 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery', in which Daniel Craig also starred. Previously, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, James Norton and Paul Mescal were linked with the role. Jack O'Connell, who was considered a contender, may no longer be in the running, according to sources, while Jacob Elordi is not screen-testing. The names of Harris Dickinson and Jack Barton were also previously mentioned.

Timing of the decision is unknown

Deadline reports: 'Even with tests wrapping next week, there is no timeline for a final decision'. Amazon MGM Studios, which controls the franchise, announced in May that the casting process was underway, but did not comment on details at the time. In August, producer Amy Pascal told Deadline that 'the end of the year is a good bet' for news about the new Bond: 'We are being very, very methodical. Daniel Craig — a hard act to follow. And it has to be something really different, exciting and new'.

Context of the new film

The official series of films about Ian Fleming's agent 007 has featured six actors: Sean Connery, Roger Moore, George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig. The last announcement of a new Bond was in 2005; Craig last played the role in 'No Time to Die' (2021). The new film, according to reports, will be released in 2028, with Denis Villeneuve ('Dune') as director, and the screenplay is being written by 'Peaky Blinders' creator Steven Knight, who said in September that the first draft of the script is ready. The producers are Pascal and David Heyman, and the executive producer is Tanya Lapointe. Amazon bought MGM for $8.5 billion (£6.3 billion) in 2021, which included the Bond distribution rights, and, according to reports, paid an additional at least $20 million (£14.9 million) for creative control over the franchise.