Gary Oldman has claimed that the next James Bond has already been cast, saying his "fingers are crossed" for his Slow Horses co-star Jack Lowden.
Speculation about who could be the new 007 has been rife ever since Daniel Craig made his final appearance as the iconic spy in 2021's No Time to Die, and it was further fuelled when long-time franchise stewards Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli struck a deal that handed creative control to Amazon MGM Studios back in February 2025.
Lowden, Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Tom Holland, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Harris Dickinson are among the actors who have been rumoured to be in the race, but Amazon has refused to confirm anything just yet.
However, speaking on Canada’s The Morning Show, Oldman appeared to indicate that the casting decision has already been made.
Cheering on his co-star Lowden, Oldman said: "It’s been rumoured that he’s on the shortlist. 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."
It's unclear whether Oldman is simply going off intuition or whether he has actually received industry intel.
"I would say the end of the year is a good bet," she said in an interview with Deadline.
Pascal also said that the creative team has been "methodical" in trying to find a "really different" actor.
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She explained: "We are being really, really methodical. Having worked with Barbara Broccoli at the studio, I mean, Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow. And it's got to be something really different that is stirring and exciting and different."
The next James Bond movie is being helmed by Denis Villeneuve, whose Dune saga is set to conclude in December, while Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is penning the script.
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