Jack Lowden
Steven Knight neither confirmed nor denied whether Jack Lowden is the new James Bond after Gary Oldman's casting comment went viral Instagram/@jack.lowden

Steven Knight refused to say whether the next James Bond has already been cast when asked about Gary Oldman's claim that producers have chosen Daniel Craig's successor. Yet his guarded comments on writing 007 have helped fuel fresh speculation around 'Slow Horses' star Jack Lowden.

Knight, who is writing the next instalment of the long-running franchise, was questioned about the casting in a recent interview. His carefully worded responses came shortly after Oldman claimed that Bond producers had already selected the next actor.

Steven Knight Refuses To Discuss Jack Lowden

Knight was asked about Oldman's comments and whether the new Bond actor had already been chosen. Rather than confirming or denying the claim, Knight said: 'I cannot speak about this subject. Much as I would dearly love to.'

The 'Peaky Blinders' creator was then asked whether knowing the identity of the actor playing Bond would make his job easier while writing the screenplay. His answer may have offered a small clue.

'It does make life a little bit easier if you know who that person is, but also you have to write the character, not the actor,' Knight said. 'The thing with Bond is it's its own universe, and it's its own franchise. So there are certain rules.'

When asked whether producers had told him who had been chosen before he began writing, Knight laughed and declined to elaborate, saying he would refer back to his previous answer.

Knight's comments do not confirm Jack Lowden as the next Bond. However, they do indicate that the writer may already know who has been selected, while maintaining the secrecy surrounding the casting decision.

Gary Oldman's Bond Bombshell

Knight's comments follow Oldman's recent remarks about Lowden, his co-star in Apple TV+'s spy drama 'Slow Horses'. During a recent interview, Oldman said Lowden had reportedly been on the Bond shortlist.

He then added, 'They have made their choice, but they have not announced it yet.'

Oldman then said his 'fingers are crossed for Jack'. The remarks were widely interpreted as potentially suggesting that Lowden had secured the role.

However, Oldman did not explicitly state that Lowden was the actor Amazon MGM Studios had selected.

That distinction remains important. Amazon MGM Studios has not officially announced the next 007, so Lowden's casting remains unconfirmed.

Is Jack Lowden the New James Bond?

Lowden has emerged as one of the most frequently discussed names in the Bond casting speculation. The 36-year-old Scottish actor has played MI5 officer River Cartwright in 'Slow Horses' since 2022, starring opposite Oldman's Jackson Lamb.

His experience playing an intelligence officer has made him an obvious choice for fans, although Cartwright is very different from Ian Fleming's sophisticated secret agent.

Other actors linked to the role include Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Harris Dickinson and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, while reports have also mentioned Jack Barton and Paul Mescal. No official shortlist has been released by Amazon MGM Studios.

The casting process reportedly intensified during the summer, with auditions taking place as producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman and director Denis Villeneuve worked towards selecting Craig's successor.

What We Know About Bond 26

Villeneuve, the director of 'Dune', is attached to direct the new Bond film, with Knight writing the screenplay. Pascal and Heyman are producing the project.

The film will follow Craig's final appearance as 007 in 'No Time to Die', released in 2021. It will also mark a new chapter for the franchise after Amazon MGM Studios assumed creative control of Bond in 2025.

For now, Knight's refusal to discuss the casting has added another layer of intrigue rather than providing a definitive answer. His comments suggest that Knight may know the identity of the next Bond, but they stop short of confirming who has been selected.

With Oldman claiming the decision has already been made and Knight declining to discuss it, Bond fans may not have much longer to wait before the identity of the next 007 is revealed.

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