James Bond Poll Reveals Most Popular Contender to Land the Role and It's Not Even Close - Comic Book Resources

The 007 Screen Tests Arrive in London as Final Contenders Step In

Tomorrow never dies, but for nearly every actor in the running, the dream of landing the role of James Bond will likely die this week. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a select group of actors is getting in front of cameras for comprehensive screen tests in London, featuring three core components: stunts, camera presence, and dialogue. The tests could begin as early as Friday according to two sources, with sources differing on whether at least three actors or up to five are putting on the tux to see how it fits.

The franchise enters its 26th official title under Amazon MGM Studios, which acquired the creative rights from the Broccoli family in February 2025. With Denis Villeneuve directing and Steven Knight writing the screenplay, producers are explicitly hunting for a younger actor to carry multiple sequels in a brand-new era. Amy Pascal and David Heyman are producing and overseeing the franchise for Amazon MGM Studios.

Fan Polls and Bookies Back Jack Lowden While Finalists Test

Recent reports indicate that the final group testing for 007 includes Slow Horses actor Jack Lowden and Callum Turner, alongside Josh O’Connor, as The Hollywood Reporter and CBC reported. Amid these developments, a popular reader poll launched by ScreenRant showed Lowden dominating the competition with 49.8% of the vote, far outpacing Turner at 13.3% and O’Connor at 7.1%, while a “Other” category claimed 29.8%. Bookmakers have similarly positioned the Slow Horses star as the heavy betting favorite for the casting.

Callum Turner, Jack O'Connell, Jack Lowden — Photo: The Hollywood Reporter

Other names once heavily circulated by bookies and media outlets—including Jacob Elordi, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Richard Madden, Jack O’Connell, and Henry Cavill from earlier decades—are either not testing or have fallen out of the current casting mix. Digital Spy reported that Harris Dickinson and Nicholas Hoult are likewise not in the running.

What Remains Unknown Ahead of the Official Announcement

While industry reports place the screen tests in London over the weekend, Amazon has declined to comment on the specifics of the casting process, pointing instead to its previous statement noting that the search is underway and that they are excited to share more news as soon as the time is right. Nina Gold, known for her work on The Crown and Game of Thrones, was brought in to assist with the talent search. Whether a rumored “secret” candidate outside of the reported finalists will materialize remains unconfirmed, and no official release date has been set for Bond 26.

James Bond Poll Reveals Most Popular Contender to Land the Role and It's Not Even Close - Comic Book Resources — Photo: UnHerd

Daniel Craig previously held the role for five films, concluding his tenure with 2022’s No Time to Die after taking over the franchise in 2006’s Casino Royale. Now, as Amazon MGM Studios prepares to officially announce the next actor to inherit the tuxedo, the global audience waits to see which finalist successfully captures the defining look and gravitas of Ian Fleming’s iconic spy.

Disclaimer: The cultural analyses and financial data presented in this article are based on available public records and industry metrics at the time of publication.

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