Next James Bond Screen Tests Reported for Late October — No Actor Announced

Final screen tests for the next James Bond could begin as early as October 23, according to trade reporting, but Amazon MGM Studios has not announced its new 007. Callum Turner and Jack Lowden appear in multiple reports; TheWrap also names Josh O’Connor among actors offered tests.

The distinction matters: these are reports about a private casting process, not an announcement that any of the actors has won the role.

Who is reportedly testing for James Bond?

TheWrap’s October 22 report identifies Lowden, Turner and O’Connor, alongside an unnamed possible fourth candidate. Variety’s October 23 report names Turner and Lowden while stressing that the exact participants remain unsettled. Representatives for the actors and Amazon MGM did not immediately respond to Variety.

Those reports should not be combined into a studio-certified shortlist. They differ in how many candidates they identify, and a test offer does not prove that a particular actor has completed a test or signed a contract.

When are the screen tests reportedly happening?

TheWrap places the tests from Friday, October 23 into the following week. Variety likewise says they could begin as early as Friday. Neither account establishes a public event viewers can attend or a confirmed date for revealing the successful actor.

No casting result should be inferred from the reported start date. Preparation, testing, negotiation and an official appointment are separate steps.

What has Amazon MGM actually said?

In a statement carried by Variety in May, the studio confirmed the search was underway and said it would not discuss the process’s specifics. That remains narrower than confirming the latest reported finalists.

The film’s team includes director Denis Villeneuve, screenwriter Steven Knight, and producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman. The May report records those roles; the new Variety story also identifies Villeneuve as director.

Has the next Bond been cast?

There is no public studio casting announcement in the sources checked for this report, and no official release date is established by these screen-test stories. An expected decision or a rumored theatrical year is not a release commitment.

The image above shows Daniel Craig in Casino Royale (2006), used as archival franchise context. It does not depict a 2026 candidate or new-film footage. For discussion of Craig’s actual debut, see our Casino Royale review.