Actor Gary Oldman has added fresh fuel to the James Bond casting mystery. He claims the actor who will replace Daniel Craig has already been chosen.
However, the studio has not announced the identity of the next 007 yet.
Oldman made the comments during an appearance on Canada’s The Morning Show. He was promoting his Apple TV+ series Slow Horses when the hosts asked about his co-star Jack Lowden.
Lowden has become one of the names linked to the famous spy role. Oldman then appeared to reveal that the long-running casting search may already be over.
“It’s been rumored that he’s on the shortlist,” Oldman said of Lowden. “We’re going to find out pretty soon, aren’t we? Because they have picked him.”
The veteran actor later made his claim even clearer.
“They have made their choice, but they have not announced it yet,” Oldman said.
Jack Lowden emerges as a major Bond contender
Lowden, 36, has worked with Oldman on Slow Horses, where he plays MI5 agent River Cartwright.
His name has repeatedly appeared in reports about the next Bond. Nevertheless, no official announcement has identified him as Daniel Craig’s successor.
Oldman also made clear that he hopes Lowden gets the part.
The comments have therefore added another twist to an already intense casting debate.
Craig played James Bond for 15 years. He first appeared as 007 in Casino Royale in 2006.
He returned for four more films before making his final appearance in No Time to Die in 2021.
Since then, fans have debated who could take over the role.
Amazon MGM controls the next Bond era
The search for Craig’s replacement has entered a new phase under Amazon MGM Studios.
The company now oversees the creative future of the Bond franchise. Meanwhile, filmmaker Denis Villeneuve will direct the next 007 movie.
The production team has also been working through the casting process. Reports have pointed to several possible contenders, with Lowden among the most discussed names.
Still, Oldman’s comments stand out because of his close working relationship with Lowden.
If his claim proves accurate, the studio may only need to choose the right moment for the official announcement.
Fans wait for the official Bond announcement
For now, Lowden remains only a rumored candidate.
Neither an official Bond announcement nor a public confirmation from the studio has followed Oldman’s comments.
That leaves fans with plenty to discuss.
Oldman’s wording, however, suggests that the decision could already be settled behind the scenes.
The next Bond will inherit one of cinema’s most famous roles. Craig’s departure also gives the franchise an opportunity to introduce a new version of 007.
For that reason, the casting decision carries enormous attention worldwide.
Until the studio confirms the actor, speculation will continue.
Yet Gary Oldman may have just given Bond fans their biggest clue so far.
