Amazon MGM Studios’ long search for Daniel Craig’s James Bond successor has reportedly reached its final screen-test stage, with multiple Hollywood trades reporting auditions planned to begin as early as October 23 and continue through the week of October 26.
Deadline reported on Thursday, October 22, that at least four test offers had gone out, with Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Josh O’Connor expected to be three of the actors testing. Deadline said a fourth actor had not been identified and that the tests could begin as early as Friday, October 23, and continue through the following week.
Variety separately reported Friday that final screen tests were set to happen over the next week and that Turner and Lowden appeared to be in the mix. TheWrap also reported that Lowden, Turner and O’Connor had made the final round, while saying Amazon MGM declined to comment. The Hollywood Reporter reported that tests were expected over the October 24–25 weekend and that some previously rumoured names were not expected to test.
Amazon MGM has not publicly named the next Bond, and the studio’s most recent public statement on the search said it did not plan to discuss specific casting details during the process. The reports lean on unnamed sources, so Lowden, Turner and O’Connor are reported finalists, not confirmed hires.
What is confirmed
Amazon MGM confirmed in May 2026 that the search was underway. It also confirmed the current creative team: Denis Villeneuve is directing, Amy Pascal and David Heyman are producing, Tanya Lapointe is executive producing, and Steven Knight is writing the script.
The new film is the first Bond chapter after No Time to Die ended Craig’s run in 2021. It is also the first major 007 reset since Amazon MGM gained creative control of the franchise through a 2025 joint venture with Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, who remain co-owners.
Why the screen tests carry weight
Bond casting rumours are constant, but final screen tests are a different stage. BBC culture reporter Helen Bushby reported that the finalists are said to be tested across stunts, camera presence and dialogue. That makes the process less about whether an actor looks convincing in a tuxedo and more about whether the performance works under film conditions.
That distinction has history. The 007 team has previously described Bond screen tests as elaborate production exercises involving hair and make-up, costumes, sets and other actors. Craig went through screen testing before his 2005 announcement, which is a useful reminder that even late-stage tests do not equal a public casting decision.
The Amazon MGM factor
The current search is not just another handoff between Bond actors. For decades, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson guided the film series through Eon Productions. Amazon MGM now has creative control over future productions, making this the first actor choice that will publicly define the studio’s version of Bond.
That does not guarantee a radical break from the past. Villeneuve, Pascal, Heyman and Knight all come from film-first backgrounds, and Amazon’s official updates have framed the next movie as a continuation of Bond’s theatrical legacy. Still, the choice of actor will signal the age, tone and long-term path Amazon MGM wants for 007 after Craig’s 15-year tenure.
What to watch next
If the reported tests wrap during the week of October 26, the decision still may not arrive immediately. Deadline reported there was no set timeline for a final choice, while Variety said the expectation remains before the end of 2026.
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