I know very well that the critics before me bemoaned Daniel Craig getting the gig only to watch Casino Royale in theaters and swiftly swallow their pride. But when I look at the field of potential James Bond actors today, I can’t say that I’m too excited. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the race to star in Amazon’s rebooted franchise is down to just two names: Callum Turner (One Night Only) and Jack Lowden (Slow Horses).
Both actors are reportedly “in the mix for screen tests, which are taking place in London this weekend.” Other well-known actors rumored to be competing for the role include Josh O’Connor (Disclosure Day), Jack O’Connell (28 Years Later: The Bone Temple), and Jacob Elordi (The Dog Stars), but they are not part of this round of testing, per THR. Maybe that’s for the best. With this list, it’s clear that Amazon is looking for a big-named star who can bring people to the theater.
Daniel Craig turned the franchise from roughly $500 million-grossing films to around $1 billion, and I’m certain that Amazon wants to keep it that way. Plus, whoever takes up the 007 license next will likely need the calendar space to . That, and they’ll need the acting chops to uphold a significant legacy, stepping into a role that is arguably more scrutinized than any part that requires donning a cape and tights on screen.
Turner, though he certainly looks the part, has his pros and cons. He has the range and the experience for the role. He’s a heartthrob already, and his marriage to singer Dua Lipa sets up a nice one-two punch for Amazon to potentially cast both the actor and the songwriter in one move.
At the same time, Turner hasn’t been a part of a film that took in more than $100 million at the box office since he was a part of the larger Fantastic Beasts ensemble. He was great in Masters of the Air, the Apple TV limited series about World War II pilots costarring Austin Butler and Barry Keoghan. But critics panned his last three films, including The Boys in the Boat, Eternity, and One Night Only.
Lowden, meanwhile, has spent the better part of the last four years on Apple TV’s Slow Horses. The British crime drama starring Gary Oldman is an award season mainstay that was also just renewed for two more seasons. Outside of Horses, and his role as Mr.
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