Gary Oldman says next James Bond has been picked, keeps ‘fingers crossed’ for Jack Lowden

LONDON, ENGLAND: Gary Oldman has claimed that the search for the next James Bond may already be over, revealing that producers have made their choice for the actor who will succeed Daniel Craig.

The Oscar-winning actor hopes the role has gone to his 'Slow Horses' co-star Jack Lowden.

Meanwhile, Saoirse Ronan, Lowden’s wife, has openly expressed her interest in playing a Bond villain in the upcoming film, making her involvement another possibility.

Gary Oldman backs Jack Lowden for James Bond

Oldman discussed the Bond casting during an interview with Canada’s 'The Morning Show', where he addressed speculation surrounding Lowden’s potential involvement.

While Lowden has been rumored to be on the shortlist, Oldman claimed that producers have already selected their next 007.

“It’s been rumored that [Lowden] is on the shortlist,” Oldman said, adding, “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.”

Rumors about the identity of the next Bond have circulated for years following Craig’s departure, but speculation has intensified, with the next film expected to enter production in 2027.

Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Harris Dickinson, and Lowden have all been reported as contenders.

Variety also reported that there had been interest in Louis Partridge, while stage star Tom Francis had reportedly auditioned.

Amazon MGM Studios has repeatedly declined to discuss who has or has not been considered for the role. Denis Villeneuve is set to direct the next Bond film, with 'Peaky Blinders' creator Steven Knight writing the script.

Saoirse Ronan wants Bond villain role

Ronan, a four-time Oscar-nominated actress, has made clear that she wants to take on the darker side of the Bond franchise. In an August 24 feature for Empire, she reiterated her interest in playing a villain.

“I want to go dark,” Ronan said. “I said that I wanted to be a Bond villain and I’m dead serious.”

She previously discussed the idea with Vanity Fair in 2024, explaining that she would prefer a female villain with her own agenda rather than a character who simply attempts to charm Bond before meeting a grisly fate.

“There’s a lot to unpack there, you know? There’s a lot to work on, which I like,” she said, adding, “But that is what I do like about something like Bond in general, is that the characters are very interesting. And I do think there’s something kind of cool about having a female villain who wants to take him down and doesn’t just want to fall in love with him.”

She also said that having a young female villain could give girls and women someone who channels pent-up anger into something dramatically interesting.

Ronan’s latest movie, 'Bad Apples', gives her another opportunity to play a darker character.

She portrays Maria, an elementary school teacher whose relationship with a disruptive student takes an unsettling turn after she accidentally locks the child in her home. Ronan described Maria as “the nicest villain you could play.”