James Bond: Jack Lowden and Callum Turner Reportedly Advance to Screen Tests

The search for the next James Bond is reportedly approaching a decisive stage. Final screen tests for the next 007 are expected to take place this weekend, with Jack Lowden and Callum Turner among the actors linked to the final stages of the process.

Reports from The Hollywood Reporter, the BBC and The Guardian indicate that the casting search is nearing a crucial point. However, no actor has been officially confirmed as Daniel Craig’s successor. Source 1

The reported screen tests could represent one of the most important moments in the Bond 26 casting process. They may help producers identify the actor best suited to lead a new era of the franchise, but they do not constitute a casting announcement.

What Is Reportedly Happening This Weekend?

Final Screen Tests Are Expected

According to reports, final screen tests for the next James Bond actor are scheduled for this weekend. The Hollywood Reporter says finalists have emerged and are expected to test for the role, while the BBC describes the selection process as reaching a decisive stage. Source 7

The Guardian has also reported that finalists will screen test this week, although the available report does not identify every candidate. Source 3

A James Bond screen test generally allows filmmakers to assess more than an actor’s ability to deliver dialogue. Producers may consider screen presence, physical performance, chemistry with potential co-stars and the ability to project authority on camera.

Those elements are possible features of a final audition, but they have not been confirmed as the specific format of this weekend’s tests. The reported event should therefore be understood as a late-stage evaluation, not proof that a winner has been selected.

No Official Casting Confirmation

No studio or franchise producer has officially announced the next James Bond actor. The names linked to the process come from media reports, which do not provide a complete or fully consistent picture of the shortlist.

Even if an actor performs successfully in a final test, additional steps may follow. Contract negotiations, scheduling, creative approval and production planning can affect the final decision. A preferred candidate may also be selected privately before the studio is ready to make the news public.

The distinction is clear: Jack Lowden and Callum Turner are reportedly among the leading candidates, but neither has been confirmed as 007.

Jack Lowden and Callum Turner Reportedly Lead the Race

Jack Lowden

Jack Lowden is reportedly advancing toward the final stage of the James Bond selection process. A report describing a four-actor finalist group includes Lowden alongside Callum Turner and Josh O’Connor. The report misspells his surname, but the actor’s correct name is Jack Lowden. Source 9

Lowden is known for dramatic work across film, television and theatre. His reported inclusion has attracted attention because Bond requires an actor who can combine intensity, physical credibility and controlled charisma across several films.

That profile makes Lowden an interesting possibility, but reported consideration is not the same as an offer. There is no official confirmation that he has been selected, signed a contract or agreed to lead the franchise.

Callum Turner

Callum Turner has also been identified as a leading candidate. People.com reports that Turner and Lowden have advanced in the selection process, while other reports describe the final screen tests as imminent. Source 5

Turner has appeared in The Capture, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and Masters of the Air. His work has demonstrated dramatic range and leading-man presence, qualities that could attract interest in a long-term action franchise.

As with Lowden, the reported progress does not confirm that Turner has received the role. It places him among the actors being seriously discussed, but the final decision remains unannounced.

Other Reported Contenders

Josh O’Connor

Josh O’Connor has also been named in reports about the next James Bond casting process. One report says the shortlist has narrowed to four actors and identifies O’Connor, Turner and Lowden among them. Source 9

O’Connor has received critical recognition for performances in The Crown, God’s Own Country and Challengers. His reported involvement broadens the possible direction of the casting conversation, with the shortlist including actors known for substantial dramatic work rather than a single established action-star model.

The full four-person group has not been independently confirmed in the available reports. Any remaining name should not be presented as fact without a reliable source.

Jacob Elordi Reportedly Will Not Screen Test

People.com reports that Jacob Elordi will not screen test for the James Bond role. The report identifies Turner and Lowden as actors who have advanced in the selection process. Source 5

That report does not establish whether Elordi was formally shortlisted, approached earlier or considered at a previous stage. It also does not provide a confirmed reason for his reported absence from the screen tests.

Why the Screen Tests Matter for Bond 26

The next James Bond actor will help define the tone of the following films. The selection could influence whether the franchise continues the emotionally serious approach associated with Daniel Craig’s era or moves toward a lighter, more traditional spy-adventure style.

The role requires more than popularity. The selected actor must command the screen, handle action, sustain dramatic scenes and remain convincing as a central figure across a potentially long franchise commitment. Availability, contract terms and willingness to commit may be as important as a strong audition.

The screen tests may reveal which actor best matches the producers’ vision, but no creative direction has been officially confirmed.

How to Read the Latest Casting Reports

Reported:

• Jack Lowden and Callum Turner have advanced in the selection process.
• Final screen tests are expected this weekend or during this week.
• Josh O’Connor has been named among a reported group of four finalists.
• Jacob Elordi reportedly will not screen test.

Unconfirmed:

• The identity of the next James Bond.
• The complete finalist list.
• Whether Lowden or Turner has received an offer.
• Contract terms, film count and production commitments.
• The timing of an official announcement.

Casting reports can change quickly. Actors may be considered, approached, tested, shortlisted or involved in negotiations, and those stages do not carry the same meaning. The studio and franchise producers will provide the decisive confirmation.

What Happens After the Screen Tests?

The tests could lead producers to identify a preferred candidate, but no immediate announcement is guaranteed. Potential next steps include negotiations, legal review, scheduling discussions and final creative approval.

The authoritative confirmation will come from the studio or the franchise’s producers. Until then, the reported weekend screen tests should be treated as an important development rather than a completed casting decision.

Conclusion

Jack Lowden and Callum Turner are reportedly among the leading actors moving toward final screen tests for the next James Bond role. Josh O’Connor has also been named as a reported contender, while People.com says Jacob Elordi will not screen test.

The reports suggest that the 007 casting process is reaching an important stage, but they do not confirm the next Bond actor, the complete shortlist or the timing of an official announcement. Daniel Craig’s successor remains unknown until the studio confirms the decision.

FAQ

Are Jack Lowden and Callum Turner confirmed as the next James Bond actors?

No. Reports say both actors have advanced in the casting process and are expected to screen test, but neither has been officially confirmed as 007.

When will they screen test for James Bond?

Reports say the final screen tests are expected to take place this weekend. The available reports do not provide an exact date or time.

Who else is reportedly in the running?

Josh O’Connor has been named in a report describing a four-actor finalist group. The complete shortlist has not been independently confirmed.

Will Jacob Elordi play James Bond?

A People.com report says Jacob Elordi will not screen test for the role. His wider status in the selection process has not been confirmed.

Has the next James Bond actor been announced?

No. The reports describe a late-stage casting process, but no official announcement has identified Daniel Craig’s successor.

What happens after the final screen tests?

The filmmakers and studio may choose a preferred actor, negotiate terms and complete final approvals before making a public announcement. The timing remains unconfirmed.