Jack Lowden or Jacob Elordi? The new James Bond could be named within weeks

Right, let's try to untangle the year's biggest rumour mill—James Bond casting. Every time there's a whisper, half the internet loses its mind, but with 2026 nearly done and dusted, the next 007 actually does look set to materialise any minute. The latest Bond film, still under Amazon/MGM but now with Denis Villeneuve attached as director, has everyone breathlessly awaiting the big reveal. If you're betting on a pre-Christmas announcement, you're not daft—would you want to spend an entire Dune: Part III press tour swatting away Bond questions if you were Villeneuve? Nor would I.

Denis Villeneuve is expected to announce the new James Bond before starting his global 'Dune: Part III' campaign, to avoid questions overshadowing the sci-fi release.

The Main Runners

As it stands, two names are topping everyone's lists: Jack Lowden and Jacob Elordi. Now, Lowden ticks a lot of boxes for the Bond gig. He'll be thirty-seven by the time cameras roll, which is exactly the same age Daniel Craig was when he gave us Casino Royale. He's also well-practised in espionage, thanks to his stint on Slow Horses (cheeky nod to Apple TV for basically running covert auditions). Rumour has it even Gary Oldman has been backing Lowden for Bond—Oldman being, of course, the resident MI5 chief on that show. On the plus side, Lowden is also, crucially, English, which has always gone down well with the Bond old guard.

• Jack Lowden: Age 37 at filming, British, established spy credentials thanks to “Slow Horses”, and rumoured to have Gary Oldman's support.
• Jacob Elordi: Age 30 at filming, younger, riding the wave of an Oscar nomination for “Frankenstein”, but his recent solo outing “The Dog Stars” fizzled.

Don't discount Elordi just yet. At thirty, he's the more youthful choice. He's earned big respect after snagging an Oscar nod for Frankenstein, though his solo project The Dog Stars properly tanked last summer—Bond could be exactly the rocket his career needs if he's after global stardom.

Casting Wild Cards

Here's where it gets trickier. Once you become 007, forget blending into the background ever again—you're Bond, and that's your lot. Elordi, still on the up, might pause over typecasting. But working with Villeneuve? That's a turn-on for any actor, and word is Elordi definitely wants a shot with the director.

Mind you, nothing stops Villeneuve and Amazon from ripping up the shortlist entirely and going for an unknown, or someone we haven't even considered. A few industry folk have been throwing around Harris Dickinson's name as an outside bet—frankly, he'd be a cracking choice. But right now, Lowden and Elordi are where the smart money is. A decision is expected in weeks, possibly even days.

Lowden will be thirty-seven when shooting begins—the exact age Daniel Craig was for his debut in 'Casino Royale'.