A new name has been added to the mix as speculation on which actor will be offered the coveted one James Bond role continues to grow.
It’s the question on everyone’s lips since Daniel Craig announced he would be hanging up his bow tie and gun as 007 in 2019.
Now British actor Jack Barton, 31, has been introduced as a potential new leading man as he was named the current favorite for the iconic part.
Page Six has reported that screen tests will begin in the coming days, with Jack’s name apparently on the shortlist.
So far he has mainly appeared in the teenage years Netflix drama Heartstopper and the BBC SAS: Rogue Heroes in 2025, as well as a selection of minor roles.
Casting directors are said to be backing Jack for the role, while Amazon is thought to be looking for a more established actor.
British actor Jack Barton, 31, has been introduced as a potential new leading man as he was named the current favorite for the iconic role (pictured in SAS: Rogue Heroes)
It’s the question on everyone’s lips since Daniel Craig announced he would be hanging up his bow tie and gun as 007 in 2019
Debbie McWilliams, who chose Timothy Dalton’s previous bonds, Pierce Brosnan And Daniel Craig Rather, a newcomer would have to be cast for the role.
She told the Independent in June: “I don’t want to see any of it [the rumoured stars] as Bond because we know so much about them now.
‘We want to know as little about them personally as possible, because they are spies. We don’t need to know where he goes shopping, who his parents are, or where he lives.
‘We never want to see him at home. And an essential part of the whole is his job description. He has the power to kill, and we must believe that he can. If you don’t do that, you’ll lose the audience.’
Other current favorites include Callum Turner, Jack Lowden, Harris Dickinson, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jacob Elordi and Henry Cavill.
Theo James recently ruled himself out of the role, insisting he is ‘too old’ to play the secret agent.
Speculation about who the next 007 will be has been rife for months and recently increased after Amazon MGM Studios announced in May that auditions would finally take place.
Theo’s name has always been in the mix, but the star of Netflix hit The Gentlemen has said: ‘I’m definitely too old now’ at the age of 41, despite Daniel being 51 by the time he filmed his last Bond film.
Age isn’t the only factor that has put Theo off the role, however, as he insists the role is “an example of a place you could never come back from.”
To date, he has most notably appeared in the Netflix teen drama Heartstopper and the BBC’s SAS: Rogue Heroes in 2025, as well as in a selection of small roles.
Casting directors are said to be backing Jack for the role, while Amazon is thought to be looking for a more established actor.
Speak with British GQthe actor recalled the voracious attention the Divergent film franchise generated in him a decade ago.
Just as his fame was reaching its peak, Theo stepped away from the spotlight and chose smaller projects that helped him hone his craft, even briefly considering studying oceanography at the University of Santa Cruz. California.
‘Imagine that you and I suddenly can no longer walk down the street. What that does to your children, who try to find themselves in the midst of hyper-criticism and fame,” Theo, who is married to Irish actress Ruth Kearney with whom he shares two young children, now says about the path he could have chosen.
“None of that is worth it to me. At that moment, it’s very intoxicating to be offered a big, sexy part that would change your life forever. But it wouldn’t be worth it in the end.’
Although he is fiercely protective of his private life, he says his stance on interacting with fans has changed as he has gotten older.
‘It’s funny with selfies. When I was younger, I was very allergic to it,” he said.
“So I always said no, but the problem with saying no, I discovered, is that it prolongs the moment. That’s of course a lot of fun, and you want to serve someone who invests in it in some way.’
‘But at the same time there is the existential problem: what is your job? What is identity? What belongs to the public and what does not?’
Jack (Lowden) was recently tipped as the favourite, with 007 producers reportedly ‘strongly considering’ the Slow Horses star.
Presenter Richard Osman said recently on his podcast The rest is entertainment: ‘Someone recently told me for sure who the next Bond is, but I mean, that’s happened before. The name I heard is Jack Lowden.’
Theo James recently ruled himself out of the role, insisting he is ‘too old’ to play the secret agent
Richard warned: ‘It’s definitely not a case of ‘he’s definitely got it’. It’s definitely being heavily considered. I think he’d be great.’
His co-host Marina Hyde agreed, pointing out that at 36, Lowden is “at a good age.” You have to have the longevity. They need to make at least two films and he’s a good age for it.’
Richard said the actor “really has.” Daniel Craig energy,” adding that he is “such a brilliant actor. Can be funny, can definitely take action. I mean, I think he would be sensational.”
Richard and Marina’s podcast discussed new research showing the public’s top choices for Bond are Tom Hardy, 48, Henry Cavill43, and James Nortonwho has recently excluded himself and at the age of 41 admits, like Theo, that he is relieved that he is now seen as ‘too old’.
The podcasters pointed out that audiences can’t necessarily be trusted to pick the right actor.
“If you look back at every James Bond that has ever been appointed, none of them would have been chosen by the public, except maybe one,” Richard said, referring to Bond Pierce Brosnan from 1995-2002.
“You have to trust the movie producers to pick someone the audience doesn’t know they want… Daniel Craig definitely wouldn’t have been picked by the audience. They were furious about it at the time.’
“That was Barbara Broccoli’s call, totally Daniel Craig’s call,” Marina agreed. ‘And it was really ballistic because everyone was like, “What the hell are you talking about?” As soon as they see Casino Royale they’re like, “Oh yeah, no, you’re right, that’s the right decision.”
Bond producer Amy Pascal provided an update on the audition process earlier this month, explaining: “We are very, very methodical. Having worked in the studio with Barbara Broccoli, I mean Daniel Craig is hard to follow.”
“And it has to be something completely different, that is exciting and thrilling and different,” she added.
Auditions for the new Bond finally kicked off in May, five years after the famous spy’s last appearance on the big screen.
That announcement was postponed after the Broccoli family, which had an iron grip on the franchise for decades, handed over creative control to Amazon MGM Studios.
The production company, which was founded when Amazon bought MGM in 2022, has been quiet about who could fill Craig’s boots, but in May it teased that there would be “exciting 007 news” in the coming months.
In a statement revealing it was auditioning actors for the role, Amazon MGM Studios said: “The search for the next James Bond is underway.
‘Even though we don’t intend to comment on specific details during the casting processwe’re excited to share more news with 007 fans when the time is right.”
In late June, insiders told Deadline that director Villeneuve had begun notifying talent who had completed the next round of auditions.
