The race for the next James Bond is heating up, with some late-breaking contenders entering the fray alongside several long-rumored names. But who are they? And who is the current frontrunner?
The next James Bond is set to appear in an upcoming movie from director Denis Villeneuve, writer Steven Knight, and new Bond stewards Amazon MGM. That movie is still yet to be dated, so we could still have a long wait to see the next 007 in action, even if we get the long-awaited confirmed casting sooner rather than later.
Below, you'll find our round-up of the reported frontrunners, two more recent additions to the list and several other rumored names. You'll find the latest information about what each person has had to say when asked about a 007 debut, as well as what industry insiders have been speculating. So look no further; here are the potential next James Bonds.
Who are the finalists to play the next James Bond?
Callum Turner
The Fantastic Beasts, Masters of the Air and Sex Purge One Night Only actor emerged as one of the frontrunners to play the next Bond at the beginning of 2026. Turner was pretty evasive when asked about the prospect of playing Bond, saying, "It's very early for that question. I'm not going to comment on it, thank you" (via Vanity Fair).
Since then, Turner's profile has skyrocketed following his marriage to pop star Dua Lipa, who wouldn't be a bad shout as a person to sing the next Bond theme. Turner has also reportedly resigned from the production company he founded with his wife, which some have taken as a sign he may be too busy with Bond to produce movies on the side. Like the others on the finalists list, Turner is 36 years old, so it seems like that's the generational sweet spot. Turner is considered the current top contender.
Jack Lowden
Slow Horses star Jack Lowden is another of the four reported finalists to play the next James Bond. Like Pierce Brosnan before him, Lowden has honed his spycraft on TV playing River Cartwright in the Apple TV sensation. Though Cartwright, it must be noted, cuts a far less confident and accomplished figure than we're used to from Bond.
Lowden recently threw cold water on the prospect of being cast as Bond, telling GQ Hype it's "flattering" to be in the Bond conversation, but he doesn't want to "add to the noise." Like Callum Turner, Lowden has a famous spouse – Saoirse Ronan – who says she's "dead serious" about playing a Bond villain. The prospect of that is almost too delicious to resist.
Josh O'Connor
Something of a surprise name on the list of finalists, Challengers star Josh O'Connor wasn't seriously discussed as a potential Bond candidate until recently. While O'Connor isn't a traditional Bond type – he's closer to the Ben Whishaw Q archetype than Craig's Bond – O'Connor's recent work speaks for itself, with standout turns in Wake Up Dead Man, The Mastermind and more. He could well be the thinking man's Bond.
Like Jack Lowden, O'Connor also recently reacted to the Bond casting rumors, and kept tight-lipped on his prospects. "To be considered in that same sort of bracket is extraordinary," O'Connor said. "It's an incredibly bizarre pinch me moment...even being uttered in that same sentence and being considered for something like that. But I am afraid, there is nothing to say beyond that."
Robert Pattinson
A late addition to the rumor mill, Pattinson reportedly screen-tested to play Bond for his Dune 3 director, Denis Villeneuve. The very same weekend the news broke, Villeneuve told Vanity Fair he "can't stop thinking about" Primetime, which happens to star Pattinson as Chris Hansen. Coincidence? There's no such thing.
Pattinson would make a great Bond, no doubt. He has tremendous range as a performer, and already approximated MI6's finest in Christopher Nolan's Tenet. The only thing holding Pattinson back, potentially, is his commitment to another major franchise character in Batman, and at 40 years old he's a tad older than the other major contenders.
Nicholas Hoult
Another late addition to the Bond audition process is Lex Luthor star Nicholas Hoult. The 36-year-old Brit is thought to be one of five finalists, and it's easy to see why he'd be on Amazon MGM's radar. The former child star has worked consistently since his early appearances in About A Boy and Skins, but his post-Mad Max: Fury Road CV is particularly impressive.
Could his DC commitments prevent him from taking on Bond? There's no promise Hoult's Luthor will return post-Man of Tomorrow. Hoult has also, famously, missed out on a number of major roles after reaching the final stages, including Superman, Batman, and even Harry Potter back in the day. Could he finally break this specific unlucky streak to become the next 007?
Who else could be the next James Bond?
Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Previously, Aaron Taylor-Johnson hadn't been widely seen as a frontrunner to replace Daniel Craig as Bond. Multiple reports from The Sun, however, changed things. The UK newspaper said the Kick-Ass and Bullet Train actor had a screen test in September 2022 and producer Barbara Broccoli "loved him." 18 months later, sources close to the same publication said, "Bond is Aaron's job, should he wish to accept it."
Since then it's been all change, as Amazon bought Bond, and Broccoli was replaced by David Heyman and Amy Pascal. Taylor-Johnson has not been mentioned as much in the numerous reports since, and is seemingly not part of the final four, so it's no longer looking likely he will become the next 007. But the race isn't over yet.
Harris Dickinson
As resumes go, they don't get much more impressive at 30 than Harris Dickinson. So far in his fledgling career, he's appeared in the likes of Triangle of Sadness, The King's Man, and The Iron Claw. That effortless straddling between blockbuster and indie darlings is likely to endear himself to those involved in the casting process.
For his part, he told ES Magazine in 2022 that he doesn't think he will be in the frame for the next James Bond. An MI6-style ruse or merely keeping his cards close to his chest? Either way, those are tactics that will make for a good 007. Dickinson's name hasn't been part of the rumor mill of late, perhaps because he's been busy playing John Lennon for Sam Mendes, but could he be a surprise dark horse?
Jack Barton
The least well-known of the Bond contenders is 31-year-old SAS Rogue Heroes and Heartstopper star Jack Barton. Barton emerged as a surprise candidate in reports from September 2026. It makes sense that Amazon would want to consider a relative unknown to kick off their Bond era, as audiences won't bring baggage to the performance.
But Barton does have some Bond connections: Rogue Heroes creator Steven Knight is writing the new Bond screenplay, and Barton reportedly shares a publicist with Daniel Craig. If Villeneuve and co. want to start their Bond journey with a blank slate, Barton could be the way to go.
Jack O'Connell
Sinners star Jack O'Connell was previously reported to be screen-testing to play the next James Bond, but was not one of the three names listed in recent reports. Some have wondered if crossed wires somewhere have confused O'Connell and Josh O'Connor, which would be understandable and very funny, as O'Connell is much closer to what you might expect from Bond than O'Connor.
O'Connell has former almost-Bond-director Danny Boyle's seal of approval anyway, who told The Standard: "He plays darkness in a way that doesn't repel you. He can play real darkness and yet lure you there with him. And we all love that tantalising feeling." If not Bond himself, he wouldn't be a bad shout for a Bond villain…
Jacob Elordi
Euphoria and Saltburn star Jacob Elordi was once reportedly on Amazon's wish list for Bond. Again, Elordi is about 7 years younger than the current frontrunners for the new 007, and while he's not English, we have had an Australian Bond before in George Lazenby.
Nothing is confirmed for now, but Elordi certainly seems to have the acting chops and physicality for the role. His turn in Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein, alongside his enjoyably private school posh boy in Saltburn, proves he has more than enough range for Bond, but at 6ft5", could his towering height be a literal hurdle to nabbing the role?
The search may be ongoing, but the above names could all be the ones to take the James Bond franchise into the future.
Now, a look to the past: we've ranked all of the best Bond movies. If you're planning a 007 marathon, here's a guide on how to watch the James Bond movies in order.
