Bond casting: Lowden, Turner and O'Connor reportedly screen-tested for Amazon

Jack Lowden has opened up about the swirling speculation that he is set to take the reins of the James Bond franchise, describing the attention as "flattering" but refusing to fuel the rumour mill. The Scottish actor, currently best known for his role as River Cartwright in Apple TV's Slow Horses, is reportedly one of three actors who have recently undergone screen tests with Amazon Prime, according to the Mirror ^[1].

The 36-year-old, also known for playing Mr Darcy and as the real-life partner of Saoirse Ronan, joins the likes of Callum Turner and Josh O'Connor in the running to succeed Daniel Craig. Lowden told the Mirror that while being mentioned is "nice", he intends to keep his distance from the media circus surrounding the casting decision. "I'm just not really going to add to the noise," he said ^[1].

This quiet stance follows high-profile support from his Slow Horses co-star Gary Oldman. The Oscar-winner revealed in September that he had heard a rumour that Amazon had made its choice and was "hoping it's Jack" ^[1]. Although Oldman later clarified that he did not have official confirmation, Lowden expressed that he was "chuffed" by the veteran actor's endorsement. "Gary’s a sweetheart – it’s particularly lovely, coming from someone like him," Lowden told GQ Magazine.

Lowden reflected on the inevitability of such questions for young male actors, noting that the Bond role is often "flung at you" once you transition from playing eccentric artists to leading men in suits. He suggested that any rising star would eventually face the same interrogation ^[1].

The race for the next 007 has narrowed significantly. While Jacob Elordi, Harris Dickinson and Nicholas Hoult were previously reported as contenders, they are now thought to be out of the running. The current shortlist is believed to consist of Lowden, Turner, O'Connor and a mystery fourth actor, with some reports suggesting the final name could be Joe Alwyn or Jack O'Connell ^[1].

The casting process is part of a broader reboot of the franchise under Amazon MGM Studios. Ben Whishaw, who has portrayed tech genius Q since Skyfall, has indicated that the entire franchise needs to be "reinvented" ^[1]. The new film, directed by Oscar-nominated Denis Villeneuve, will mark the beginning of a new era following Craig's exit in No Time to Die in 2021. For now, Lowden remains the man to watch, though he insists he is not letting the hype dictate his career trajectory.