- Primary Subject: Final casting phase for the next James Bond (Bond 26).
- Key Update: Final screen tests for the next James Bond have officially narrowed the field down to four top contenders, while casting reports debunk long-standing rumors surrounding Jacob Elordi and Jack O'Connell.
- Status: Reported
- Last Verified: October 22, 2026
- Quick Answer: Amazon MGM's 007 search is in its final phase with four contenders screen-testing, while Jacob Elordi and Jack O'Connell were never truly in contention.
The search for the next 007 is officially entering the final stretch. After years of intense speculation on who could take Daniel Craig's mantle after his departure in No Time to Die, Amazon MGM Studios and director Denis Villeneuve have spent months holding auditions to find who could potentially lead the legendary spy franchise into a new era.
With rumors running rampant across the internet, new reports have shed light on the possible candidates.
Final James Bond Screen Tests at Amazon Narrow Down to Four Contenders
According to several sources (via The Hollywood Reporter & Deadline), Callum Turner (One Night Only, Masters of the Air), Jack Lowden (Slow Horses), and Josh O'Connor (Disclosure Day, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery) are three of the four expected to participate in the final screen test to become the next James Bond, as overseen by British casting director Nina Gold (Game of Thrones, Star Wars).
The creative team, which is led by director Denis Villeneuve and producers David Heyman and Amy Pascal, is reportedly seeking a British actor in their late 20s to mid-30s who can commit to a multi-film, decade-long contract.
Tests were originally planned earlier this month, but due to schedule conflicts with the finalists, final auditions were pushed to the end of the month for a simultaneous screen test.
While the tests are wrapping up next week, no official timeline has been declared for when the final decision will be made. Most believe that news will be made by the end of the year.
Despite Major Rumors, Jacob Elordi & Jack O'Connell Were Never in the 007 Mix
Despite non-stop tabloid buzz linking Wuthering Heights and Frankenstein star Jacob Elordi and Sinners and 28 Years Later star Jack O'Connell, they were never actually part of the official screen-testing mix.
While fan casting and betting markets have long pushed Elordi's name to the top of speculative threads, insiders point out that his 6-foot-5 frame and major schedule conflicts with other major franchises kept him from ever being a realistic contender for EON and Amazon MGM's strict British casting criteria.
O'Connell, on the other hand, had potential, as his gritty acting background made him a persistent fan favorite. However, considering his busy slate, including his co-starring role alongside Cillian Murphy in the upcoming A Quiet Place: Part III, kept him out of the official screen test lineup.
With screen tests wrapping up and an official casting announcement to be potentially posted before the end of the year, fans won't have to wait much longer to find out who will inherit the license to kill. Stay tuned for more updates on this story!
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