Amazon MGM have confirmed that auditions are underway to find the next actor to lead the James Bond franchise.
The process is reportedly being lead by casting director Nina Gold, whose credits include Game of Thrones and several movies in the Star Wars universe.
In a statement to Variety, Amazon MGM said: “The search for the next James Bond is underway. While we don’t plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we’re excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right.”
The identity of the next 007 has been the subject of feverish speculation ever since Daniel Craig confirmed he would depart the role following 2021’s No Time To Die.
That speculation only intensified after longtime 007 producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli announced in February 2025 that they had handed over creative control of the spy film series to Amazon.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos told The Independent that the company’s plan for the franchise is to “make great movies.”
It was reported last September that Denis Villeneuve, who will direct the first Bond film of the Amazon era, might be searching for an “unknown” actor to play the lead.
A number of high-profile actors have been rumored to be in contention for the role of 007. At one time, Bullet Train star Aaron Taylor-Johnson was considered the favorite to take over from Craig, with others including Tom Holland, Harris Dickinson and Jacob Elordi in the running.
In recent months, Eternity star Callum Turner has emerged as a potential frontrunner.
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In January, The Independent’s Adam White wrote: “Turner… is perfect for this. He’s yet to have a proper breakout role, but has a degree of name recognition, having worked consistently for the last decade or so. A few of his higher-profile gigs have included George Clooney’s treacly sports movie The Boys in the Boat, the Anya Taylor-Joy Emma (he played dashing Mr Churchill), and the second and third films in the Fantastic Beasts series.
“Most recently he was one of a pair of men fighting for the love of Elizabeth Olsen in the afterlife romcom Eternity. That movie didn’t exactly demonstrate that he’s a font of charisma, but Turner is by and large an untested prospect. He also ticks a few key Bond boxes: he’s 6 ft tall and black-haired, has a face carved by the gods but not to such an extent that he’s a barrel of bland, and looks very good in a suit.”
It was announced last year that Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight will write the script for the new film, which is not expected to be released until 2028.