The hunt for the next James Bond has reached the screen-test stage. According to Deadline, final tests for Amazon MGM Studios’ new 007 could begin as early as Friday, October 23, 2026, with Jack Lowden and Callum Turner reportedly among the actors in the mix. As for whether Dua Lipa’s husband is truly in the running, nobody official is saying yes. Nobody is saying no, either.
The screen tests are (finally) happening
Deadline reported that the final screen tests are set to kick off as early as Friday and run through the following week. Variety backed that up, reporting that the tests are expected to take place over the next week and that Turner and Lowden appear to be in the mix, per sources.
This moment has been a long time coming. Daniel Craig’s final outing, “No Time to Die,” hit theaters in October 2021, and the search for his successor has been dragging on ever since. Things got serious after Amazon MGM Studios took creative control of the franchise from the Broccoli family in a deal reported at more than $1 billion. Denis Villeneuve, the director behind “Dune,” has been announced as director of Bond 26, and “Peaky Blinders” creator Steven Knight is reportedly writing the script.
The tests were supposed to happen even sooner. Deadline reported they were originally planned for earlier in October but got pushed because of scheduling conflicts with the finalists. Apparently even future spies have to juggle their calendars.
Who’s reportedly in the mix
At least four screen test offers have gone out, according to Deadline. Insiders told the outlet that three of the actors expected to test are Lowden, Turner and Josh O’Connor, though Deadline was clear that those names are unconfirmed. The identity of the fourth contender remains a mystery, and reports have put the total number of finalists anywhere from three to five.
Page Six reported on October 23 that finalists have emerged as screen tests get underway, naming Turner and Lowden among them. The outlet also reported that Jacob Elordi is not testing. That’s a notable twist, since Elordi was once considered a frontrunner alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson, whose name started circulating as early as March 2024, and James Norton.
Lowden currently leads the pack with the bookmakers. The Hollywood Reporter, citing BetOnline, reported that the Scottish actor tops the odds to become the next 007. His “Slow Horses” co-star Gary Oldman also added fuel to the fire, appearing to suggest that Lowden had made the shortlist, Variety reported. Not a bad hype man to have.
At home, though, Lowden’s household is reportedly keeping things low-key. His wife, actress Saoirse Ronan, told Variety, “It’s not really a subject that’s coming up in our house.” Very cool, very calm, very much the energy you’d want in a spy’s spouse.
Reps for Turner, Lowden and Amazon MGM did not immediately respond to Variety’s request for comment.
Meanwhile, in New York: Dua Lipa’s husband keeps it casual
If Turner is feeling the pressure, he’s hiding it well. Just Jared reported that he and Dua Lipa were photographed together in New York City on October 21, walking their dog and later having dinner at a restaurant with Turner’s mother. A family meal right before a potential career-defining audition? Honestly, relatable.
The couple has had a big year. According to Just Jared, they married in 2026, first legally in London in May, followed by a ceremony in Sicily in June. Lipa confirmed their engagement back in June 2025, telling British Vogue, via NBC News, “Yeah, we’re engaged. It’s very exciting.”
Turner’s Bond buzz goes back a while. He and Lipa were spotted at Goldeneye, Ian Fleming’s former Jamaican estate, in late 2025, which set off a wave of speculation. You don’t get much more on-the-nose than vacationing where 007 was born.
When asked about the rumors at the Berlin Film Festival in February 2026, Turner played it close to the vest. “It’s very early for that question. I’m not going to comment on it,” he said, via Variety. Fair enough. That was months ago, and the question is a lot less early now.
To be clear, there’s still no official word on Turner’s rumored screen test. Just Jared, Variety and Deadline have all reported on it, but neither his reps nor Amazon MGM have confirmed anything.
Bond girl odds and what’s next
The casting chatter isn’t limited to 007 himself. The Hollywood Reporter reported that Margaret Qualley tops BetOnline’s odds for the next Bond girl, sitting at 33%. Her odds got a boost after she appeared as a Bond girl during a Bond tribute segment at the 2026 Oscars. Worth keeping in perspective, though: her place in the conversation comes from bookie odds alone, with no reported studio talks or casting confirmation behind it.
So when will we actually know? A final decision is reportedly expected by the end of 2026, according to Deadline. Producer Amy Pascal told Deadline that an announcement by year’s end is a good bet, per Cosmic Book News.
That means the next couple of months could finally deliver the answer fans have been waiting on since 2021. Will it be Lowden, the bookies’ darling? Turner, the man with the Goldeneye vacation photos? O’Connor, or the mysterious fourth name? Grab your martini, shaken or stirred, and stay tuned.
