As of October 23, 2026, Amazon MGM Studios’ search for the next James Bond was reportedly entering final screen tests. Deadline said testing could start that Friday and run through the following week, while The Hollywood Reporter placed the tests in London. The reports named potential contenders, not a confirmed cast list—and no actor had been officially announced as 007.
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When and where were the tests expected?
Deadline reported that the final round could begin as early as Friday, October 23, and continue into the next week. The Hollywood Reporter also described tests in London over the weekend, potentially starting Friday. The supplied reporting does not identify a specific venue or confirm that testing had actually started by October 23.
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The tests had reportedly been planned for earlier in October but were delayed by scheduling conflicts involving the finalists. The reports do not specify the conflicts or identify whose schedules caused the delay.
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What might the screen tests assess?
Reports describing The Hollywood Reporter’s coverage said the tests would evaluate stunts, camera presence and dialogue. These details are reported assessments, not an officially published Amazon MGM test plan.
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Who was reportedly in the mix?
Deadline reported that at least four test offers had gone out. Its sources named Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Josh O’Connor as three actors expected to test, while noting that their participation was unconfirmed; the fourth actor was not identified.
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The Hollywood Reporter also placed Lowden and Turner among the actors in the mix. Its sources described a group of at least three, with one source saying as many as five actors might test. That is a different estimate from Deadline’s report of at least four offers, not proof of a definitive four-person shortlist.
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The Hollywood Reporter was also reported to have said Jacob Elordi was not screen-testing. That does not establish that he was officially ruled out of the broader casting search. Jack O’Connell had been rumored earlier, but the available reports do not confirm whether he was considered for this final round.
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What is—and is not—known about the casting timeline?
Complex’s account of Deadline’s reporting says casting director Nina Gold joined the project in April and that the team planned a broad round of auditions in August. The reported estimates for that earlier audition pool varied, from five to seven actors to potentially more.
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Variety reported no set date for naming the next Bond, though its sources expected a decision before the end of 2026. Amazon MGM had not publicly confirmed the reported candidates or test schedule; a statement quoted in another report said only that “the search for the next James Bond is underway.”
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The reliable takeaway is that final tests were reported as imminent in London, with Lowden and Turner appearing in both outlets’ reporting and O’Connor named by Deadline. The exact number of actors, who actually tested and when the role would be announced remained unsettled.
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