Amazon MGM Studios has reportedly begun final screen tests for Bond 26, the first James Bond film since No Time to Die in 2021. According to insiders cited by The Wrap and Collider, the leading candidates are Jack Lowden, Callum Turner, and Josh O'Connor. A fourth actor has received a test offer but has not been named publicly. Testing was set to begin as early as Friday, October 23, with sessions continuing through the following week.
The search has moved in deliberate stages. A first round of auditions took place in August 2026; screen test offers were worked out through September. Casting director Nina Gold joined the project in spring 2026. Jacob Elordi, previously reported as a contender, is no longer testing, according to The Wrap.
All three publicly named finalists are British. Lowden is best known for Slow Horses, the Apple TV series. Turner has been among bookmakers' frontrunners for the role since late 2025. O'Connor has accumulated major credits across international productions. Denis Villeneuve is set to direct Bond 26; Steven Knight wrote the screenplay; Amy Pascal and David Heyman produce.
The casting carries weight beyond 007's next face. Amazon reportedly paid $20 million for full creative control of the franchise, the first major shift in the series' 64-year history. Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson remain co-owners but have stepped back from day-to-day production. Amazon MGM Studios declined to comment. A decision is generally expected before the end of 2026, though no timeline has been confirmed.