This weekend, the identity of the next James Bond is finally expected to be revealed—at least to insiders. According to reports, several youngish British actors—definitely three, possibly five—will have their final screen tests.
To say this has been a long time coming is an understatement. It has been five years since Daniel Craig was killed in a hail of missiles at the end of No Time to Die, and during that time—and even long before—a swarm of actors have been tipped to replace him, only to age out of the role due to a combination of indecision and cutthroat backstage corporate maneuvering. Whoever is announced as 007 will be joining the franchise after what is likely the longest gap in its 64-year history.
10:14 Who will be the next James Bond? – The Latest
So this is a big weekend. Let’s go through what we know so far.
The candidates
If three actors are to screen test for Bond this weekend, they are Callum Turner, Josh O’Connor, and Jack Lowden. If there are more—some outlets say one other actor might participate, others say two—they won’t include Jack O’Connell or Jacob Elordi, who are both out of the running for one reason or another.
The identities of the other actors are not yet known. Let’s take an uneducated guess and assume one of them is a Beatle (the best fit is Harris Dickinson) and another is more famous but less suitable (like Tom Cruise).
View image in fullscreen I spy … Jack Lowden at the Golden Globe awards, 2025. Photograph: Matt Baron/BEI/REX/Shutterstock
The screen test
Outlets are reporting that the screen test will cover three main elements: stunts, camera presence, and dialogue. These are all equally important for a modern Bond. Remove stunts from the equation and your film will be boring. Remove camera presence and you’re likely to end up with a George Lazenby type, who has the potential to ruin what would otherwise be an all-time great. Remove dialogue and you’re left with Quantum of Solace, and God knows we don’t need another one of those.
The chances
You could argue that Jack Lowden is the frontrunner, if only because the first scene of the first episode of Slow Horses was a pretty good Bond audition in itself. It was, you’ll remember, a race against time through an airport and train station, on foot and in a car, complete with hand-to-hand combat and gunplay. And it was very good indeed. Working against him is the sense that he’s a bit too much of a teddy bear for a sociopath like Bond. Plus the fact that he has spent every subsequent scene of Slow Horses doing a pretty good Simon Pegg impression.
Callum Turner would seem to make a sexier Bond, partly because he was able to conjure chemistry from the very silly sex purge movie One Night Only, and partly because he’s married to Dua Lipa, who would almost certainly get the role of Bond Girl Who Dies First if he were cast.
View image in fullscreen Looks good … Josh O’Connor at the premiere of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Los Angeles, 2025. Photograph: Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock
I still think Josh O’Connor would be the best fit, though. He looks good in a tux, as anyone who has seen The Crown will testify. He is very good at convincingly delivering absolute nonsense, as anyone who has seen Disclosure Day will testify. However, his best-known stunt work must be the long scene in The Mastermind in which he slowly climbs up and down a ladder several times in a row.
What’s missing?
Now, this is all well and good for a traditional Bond film. But we’re talking about an Amazon Bond film, directed by Denis Villeneuve. This means more will be asked of whoever gets the role, and the screen tests are the perfect way to see if they can pull it off.
For example, which of the finalists will best be able to carry their voice in such a way that it isn’t drowned out by all the seat-rumbling, full-volume honking noises that Villeneuve will almost certainly use instead of a traditional soundtrack? Which of the actors will beWho can most convincingly interact with a side character created specifically to launch their own spin-off series, the better to sustain cross-media IP synergy? And which of them will die least visibly on the inside during the scene where an Amazon drone delivers them a gun? That’s what will really make or break James Bond going forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs I Expect You to Cry What James Bond Actors Might Face at the Final Audition
1 What does I expect you to cry mean in the Bond audition context
It refers to the final audition stage where actors reportedly face intense emotional pressure including being pushed to cry on cue to test their range and screen presence
2 Is this a real thing or just a rumor
Its largely anecdotal Reports and interviews suggest final Bond auditions are grueling and emotionally demanding but theres no official confirmation of a cry test
3 What actually happens at a final Bond audition
Typically a screen test with scenes from the script chemistry reads with costars physicalstunt assessments and studio executives watching all under high pressure
4 Why would they want an actor to cry
Bond has emotional moments Producers want to know an actor can handle vulnerability not just action and oneliners
5 What skills do actors need at this stage
Strong cold reading emotional range physical fitness charm wit and the ability to stay calm and confident under scrutiny
6 What are common problems actors face
Nerves killing spontaneity overrehearsing struggling to cry on demand feeling intimidated by executives and losing the characters confidence while showing vulnerability
7 Whats the benefit of an emotional test for the actor
Its a chance to show depth and stand out A controlled truthful emotional moment can be more memorable than a perfect action scene
8 Can you learn to cry on cue
Yes many actors use techniques like sense memory emotional recall or musicbreathing exercises It takes practice and shouldnt look forced
9 What practical tips help in a highpressure final audition
Warm up your voice and body breathe focus on the scene partner rather than the room make bold choices and recover quickly from mistakes
10 What should actors avoid doing
Dont overact the emotion dont apologize for mistakes dont break character to seek approval and dont try to imitate previous Bonds
11 How is a final Bond audition different from a normal audition
The stakes and scrutiny are far higher studio heads directors and producers attend and the actor
