British actor Gary Oldman clarified at the Toronto International Film Festival on Friday that he has no inside information on the casting of the next 007, though he enthusiastically supports his Slow Horses co-star Jack Lowden for the role as rumors swirl regarding Amazon MGM’s upcoming franchise installment directed by Denis Villeneuve.
The Bottom Line
- The Rumor Mill: Gary Oldman caused a stir by suggesting Jack Lowden was in the running, later clarifying he has no inside track on the final decision.
- The Creative Shift: Amazon MGM now controls the franchise, with Denis Villeneuve attached to direct a script by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.
- The Contenders: Lowden joins a heavily speculated shortlist that has previously featured actors like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Tom Holland, and Jacob Elordi.
Decoding the Oldman Comments at TIFF
The conversation around the next James Bond took an unexpected turn when Oscar-winner Gary Oldman addressed reporters at TIFF. Earlier in the week, comments from Oldman sparked widespread speculation that Lowden had already secured the iconic tux. However, Oldman walked those remarks back.
“I simply said: ‘Well, I believe that they’ve chosen the guy… and Jack is on the list,’ and I said: ‘Fingers crossed for Jack’, and then that was reported that I had some inside information,” Oldman explained to journalists. “I don’t know any more than you do. There’s six candidates. The rumour is that they’ve made their pick, but we don’t know who it is, and they’re waiting to announce it.”
Despite walking back the rumor of an immediate casting confirmation, Oldman did not hold back in praising the 36-year-old Scottish actor. Highlighting Lowden’s work on Slow Horses, Oldman pointed to specific traits that make an ideal cinematic spy. According to the veteran actor, Lowden brings a distinct energy that honors the historical lineage of the character established by Sean Connery, Roger Moore, and Daniel Craig.
“Jack is… young, he’s masculine, he’s incredibly funny, which I think is important,” Oldman noted. He added that casting a Scottish actor would serve as a natural nod to Connery, the original cinematic Bond from Edinburgh. “Part of the recipe for Bond, he’s got to have his sort of tongue in his cheek slightly, and a twinkle in his eye, and Jack Lowden has those qualities. And he’s a lovely guy to boot.”
Inside the Amazon MGM and Denis Villeneuve Era
Following the release of No Time to Die in 2021—which marked Daniel Craig’s final bow as the secret agent—the franchise underwent a major corporate restructuring. Amazon MGM acquired creative control of the intellectual property, signaling a fresh strategic direction for the spy empire.
Industry watchers have tracked every development since the studio announced that Denis Villeneuve would helm the next installment. Villeneuve brings a theatrical pedigree to the franchise. Meanwhile, Steven Knight, creator of the British crime series Peaky Blinders, was tapped to pen the screenplay. Knight recently hinted that a definitive casting decision is imminent, turning every public appearance by connected actors into a high-stakes guessing game.
The 007 Casting Landscape at a Glance
| Key Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Studio Control | Amazon MGM (Creative Control) |
| Directorial Vision | Directed by Denis Villeneuve |
| Screenplay | Written by Steven Knight |
| Previous Era Anchor | Daniel Craig in No Time to Die (2021) |
| Reported Contenders | Jack Lowden, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Tom Holland, Harris Dickinson, Jacob Elordi, Kingsley Ben-Adir |
What Comes Next for the Franchise
Whether Lowden ultimately joins the ranks of cinematic royalty or the role goes to another name from the reported shortlist, the intense scrutiny proves the enduring cultural capital of the property.
The transition from Craig’s tenure to a fresh creative vision under Villeneuve and Knight represents a crucial juncture for spy cinema. Until the studio officially breaks its silence, co-star endorsements like Oldman’s will continue to fuel fan debates across social media. Drop your thoughts in the comments below: does Jack Lowden fit the exact mold needed for the next iteration of 007, or should the producers look elsewhere?
