Is Jack Lowden the New James Bond? Gary Oldman Drops Bombshell 007 Casting Claim as He Backs 'Slow Horses' Star

Gary Oldman has dropped a tantalising new claim about the closely guarded search for the next James Bond, saying the actor who will replace Daniel Craig has already been chosen.

But while the Oscar winner believes a decision has been made behind closed doors, he is hoping the coveted 007 role has gone to his Slow Horses co-star Jack Lowden, who has repeatedly been linked to the franchise.

What Gary Oldman Said About the Next James Bond

Oldman addressed the long-running James Bond casting speculation during an interview with Canada's The Morning Show, where he was asked about Lowden's chances of becoming the next 007.

'It's been rumoured that [Lowden] is on the shortlist,' Oldman said. 'We're going to find out pretty soon, aren't we? Because they have picked him. They have made their choice, but they have not announced it yet. So my fingers are crossed for Jack.'

His remarks immediately raised questions over whether Oldman possesses inside information about the casting process or was simply referring to reports that a decision has been reached.

Crucially, Oldman did not say Lowden had been selected. His comment that his 'fingers are crossed' for the Scottish actor instead indicated that he does not know, or was not revealing, the identity of the chosen star.

Amazon MGM has not announced who will become the new James Bond.

Is Jack Lowden the New James Bond?

Lowden has repeatedly been linked to the 007 role as speculation intensifies over who will succeed Craig, whose 15-year run as Bond ended with 2021's No Time to Die.

The 36-year-old actor is perhaps best known internationally for playing MI5 agent River Cartwright in Apple TV+'s acclaimed spy drama Slow Horses. Oldman stars opposite him as veteran intelligence officer Jackson Lamb.

Lowden's experience playing a British intelligence operative has inevitably added to comparisons with Bond, but there remains no official confirmation that he has secured the role.

His reported competition is also formidable, with several prominent actors linked to the franchise as producers prepare to introduce a new incarnation of Ian Fleming's famous spy.

Who Else Is Reportedly in the Running for 007?

Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Harris Dickinson have all been reported alongside Lowden as potential candidates to become the next James Bond.

Variety has also reported that there was interest in Enola Holmes actor Louis Partridge, while stage star Tom Francis has reportedly auditioned.

Despite years of speculation surrounding potential candidates, Amazon MGM has repeatedly declined to discuss which actors have or have not been considered.

That secrecy means Oldman's latest remarks are unlikely to end the guessing game until an official James Bond casting announcement arrives.

Denis Villeneuve Will Direct the Next James Bond Film

While the identity of the next 007 remains under wraps, key members of the creative team behind the new Bond era have already been confirmed.

Dune filmmaker Denis Villeneuve is set to direct the next James Bond film, while Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is writing the screenplay.

The project will be the first Bond movie since Craig bowed out in No Time to Die, marking a major reset for one of cinema's longest-running franchises.

Saoirse Ronan Wants to Play a Bond Villain

Lowden is not the only member of his household interested in the Bond universe. His wife, four-time Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan, recently made clear that she wants a part in the franchise herself.

Ronan said she was 'dead serious' about wanting to play a Bond villain and suggested a young female antagonist could offer something different.

'I think it would be really interesting, having a young female villain,' she said.

For now, however, both Ronan's villain ambitions and the prospect of Lowden becoming the next James Bond remain possibilities rather than confirmed casting decisions.