Keeping up with the names rumoured to be the next James Bond has been almost impossible.
From Callum Turner to Jacob Elordi, every mid 20s to early 30s actor has made the list as the next ‘frontrunner’ taking on the 007 franchise.
But another name has now entered the ‘heavily rumoured’ mix, with none other than Richard Osman leaking the news of the actor who is reportedly being ‘strongly considered’ for the role.
Speaking on his The Rest Is Entertainment podcast alongside co-host Marine Hyde, the Pointless star, 55, claimed to have intel to suggest that Slow Horses actor Jack Lowden could be our next Bond.
Osman told listeners: ‘Someone told me for definite who the new Bond is the other day, but I mean that’s happened before.
‘The name I’ve heard is Jack Lowden.’
He added: ‘It is definitively not a “he’s definitely got it” thing. He is definitely being strongly considered. I think he’d be amazing.’
Hyde added that the Dunkirk actor, who is 36, is at a ‘good age’ to play 007, adding: ‘I think Jack Lowden would be an incredible Bond. He’s got real Daniel Craig energy.’
Lowden is best known for playing River Cartwright in Slow Horses, and later this year he’ll appear as Mr Darcy in Netflix’s new adaptation of Pride & Prejudice.
Osman’s claims come after producer Amy Pascal shared some clues on what we can expect from Daniel Craig’s replacement after five years of swirling rumours.
Since Craig left the franchise behind following 2021’s No Time to Die, we’ve been left in the dark on who the next actor will be to take on the part, following in the footsteps of Sir Sean Connery, Sir Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan.
When asked about an update on the timeline for Bond and any casting announcement, the Spider-Man producer told Deadline: ‘I would say the end of the year is a good bet. We are being really, really methodical.’
As to what they were looking for, she added: ‘Having worked with Barbara Broccoli at the studio – I mean, Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow. And it’s got to be something really different that is a stirring and exciting and different.’
Last year it was announced that the next film will be directed by Canadian filmmaker and four-time Academy Award nominee, Denis Villeneuve who is known for Dune, Prisoners, Blade Runner 2049 and Arrival.
It was also announced that the script for the next film will be written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.
Since then, there has been significant speculation surrounding who will play James Bond next, which comes after Amazon MGM Studios also took creative control of the franchise.
Other actors rumoured to be in the running for the role include Harris Dickinson and The Capture star Callum Turner, who has remained tight-lipped at the possibility of taking over.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Turner, 36, said: ‘I know as much as you do – really, I know as much as you do.
When asked if he was interested in taking the role if he was offered, he ‘laughed and looked down at his sneakers’, according to the publication.
Latest James Bond odds
Callum Turner – 11/10
Henry Cavill – 3/1
Jack Lowden – 5/1
Harris Dickinson – 6/1
Aaron Taylor-Johnson – 9/1
Louis Partridge – 10/1
Tom Holland – 10/1
James Norton – 14/1
Theo James – 16/1
Damson Idris – 20/1
Jacob Elordi – 20/1
Leo Suter – 20/1
Leo Woodall – 20/1
Nicholas Galitzine – 20/1
(Provided by Betfred)
He added: ‘I am not going to comment on that.’
But he went on to share: ‘I will tell you what’s so funny about the Bond thing: Even your best friends ask you, people text you that you haven’t spoken to for 10 years – and you know nothing!
‘It is such a weird thing of something happening and nothing happening at all. I genuinely know nothing. I just find it quite amusing.’
Metro has contacted representatives for Jack Lowden and Amazon for comment.