The search for the next James Bond might be over, according to acting legend Gary Oldman. While the public has spent years guessing who might replace Daniel Craig, Oldman suggests that the decision has already been finalized behind closed doors. Oldman shared this insight during a recent appearance on The Morning Show, as reported by Variety. He believes his Slow Horses co-star Jack Lowden is the one who has secured the iconic role. Oldman noted, “It’s been rumored that [Lowden] is 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.” The casting process for Bond is notoriously secretive, often described as the tightest wrap in the entire film industry. Amazon MGM has been firm in its refusal to comment on any of the names linked to the project. Despite this silence, the rumor mill has been working overtime as the next film approaches its scheduled production start in 2025. Before this latest development, the list of potential actors felt endless Names like Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Harris Dickinson have all been mentioned as top contenders in the final stages of the hunt. There were even reports regarding interest in Louis Partridge and auditions for stage star Tom Francis. The studio has been reportedly looking at a wide range of talent, but if Oldman is correct, the speculation is about to hit a sudden halt. Gary Oldman says a new James Bond has been cast, and he’s hoping it’s his #SlowHorses co-star Jack Lowden.“It’s been rumored that [Lowden] is 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… pic.twitter.com/dyRPwSuymx— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 7, 2026 Denis Villeneuve is slated to direct the film. Villeneuve has directed the Dune movies, with the third entry scheduled to release later this year. The script of the next James Bond film is being handled by Steven Knight, the creator of Peaky Blinders. Interestingly, the potential casting of Lowden has already sparked some creative ideas within his own household. His wife, Saoirse Ronan, recently shared her own ambitions regarding the franchise. She told Empire that she is “dead serious” about wanting to play a Bond villain. She noted, “I think it would be really interesting, having a young female villain. Especially for girls and women, to see someone who can just take all that pent-up anger and direct it somewhere, there’s something interesting in that dramatically. So I would love to do more of that.”