Amazon MGM Studios has narrowed its James Bond casting shortlist to six actors, with relative newcomer Jack Barton emerging as a surprise frontrunner. Screen tests are reportedly slated for September ahead of an anticipated late-2026 announcement for Bond 26, directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Steven Knight.
The massive franchise is entering a brand-new era under Amazon MGM Studios, which acquired the rights and is moving with calculated speed to lock in its next British secret agent.
Mientras, Callum Turner sigue sin caerse de la lista de favoritos. The Masters of the Air star first reached that position back in September 2025, after which he lost it to Anthony Boyle and Jacob Elordi. According to Action Network’s latest report, Callum Turner has reclaimed the top spot with +146 odds, giving him an implied probability of 40.68%.
Action Network has been tracking the odds of who will become the next Bond, alongside reports from Page Six Hollywood.
Jack Barton Emerges as the Surprising Frontrunner for Bond 26
The biggest twist in the ongoing casting cycle is the sudden emergence of Jack Barton as a studio favorite. Relatively unknown compared to his competitors, the 31-year-old British actor has built a quiet resume with television appearances in ‘Heartstopper’ and ‘SAS: Rogue Heroes’, alongside a small appearance in ‘Pobres criaturas’.
Industry insiders point out that casting someone with relative anonymity fits historical franchise precedent. Barton is the gran sorpresa, an actor británico relativamente desconocido por sus papeles en ‘Heartstopper’, ‘SAS: Rogue Heroes’ y una pequeña aparición en ‘Pobres criaturas’, que sería actualmente uno de los favoritos para el papel. A sus 31 años encaja perfectamente en el perfil que quieren en el estudio, ya que apuntan a alguien no demasiado desconocido y cuanto más joven mejor, ya que la intención es que el plan sea a largo plazo con varias películas.
The tarea está en manos de Nina Gold, prestigiosa directora de casting británica reconocida por su trabajo en series como ‘Roma’, ‘Juego de tronos’, ‘The Crown’ o ‘Slow Horses’ y en películas como las recientes ‘Cónclave’ o ‘Hamnet’. Nina Gold has been actively searching the United Kingdom for an actor who can step into the role with a sense of freshness, and it appears Barton has captured the attention of those leading the production.
Amy Pascal, Producer
At the beginning of August, producer Amy Pascal revealed that we will know who will take on the mantle before the end of the year, stating that they were working in a very, very methodical way. Pascal added that this new face had to be something truly different to what we saw with Daniel Craig and that they were looking for it to be touching, exciting, and distinct.
Craig protagonizó un total de cinco películas como el agente secreto, (del 2006 al 2021), redefiniendo al personaje con un tono más crudo, realista, físico y vulnerable que el de sus predecesores. Su último paso como 007 terminó en No Time to Die.
The Remaining Shortlist: From Established Rising Stars to Betting Favorites
Despite Barton leading recent insider whispers, Page Six Hollywood outlines the final group of finalists. The roster mixes rising critical darlings with heavy favorites from bookmakers. According to the media outlet, Jack Lowden, Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Paul Mescal, and Harris Dickinson are together with Jack Barton the finalists to take on the coveted role.
Callum Turner sits comfortably at the top of several tracking lists and has reclaimed the No. 1 spot. Jack Lowden, star of ‘Slow Horses’, has also recently emerged as a favorite for the role. Meanwhile, other actors like Patrick Gibson have been tracked by Action Network and discussed by fans, though odds that Patrick Gibson will actually play James Bond in a film are slim, but growing.
Meanwhile, other prominent names have officially exited the conversation. Theo James explicitly ruled himself out in an interview with GQ, stating that to begin with, he was now definitely too old, but that yes, that would be an example of a place from which you could never return. A pesar de esta opinión, James sigue estando bastante bien situado en las apuestas para convertirse en el próximo Bond.
Screen Tests and the Creative Vision Under Denis Villeneuve
The casting process is hitting its final hurdle this month. As adelantó Page Six, las pruebas de cámara tendrán lugar este mes de septiembre, siendo esta la última fase de un exhaustivo proceso de casting que se ha estado desarrollando en secreto desde el pasado mayo. Amazon confirmó que la búsqueda del nuevo 007 comenzó el pasado mayo, and auditions for James Bond are ongoing with the next round expected to continue later this month.
The chosen actor will step into a production directed by Denis Villeneuve and featuring a screenplay written by Steven Knight. El filme será dirigido por Denis Villeneuve y contará con un guion escrito por Steven Knight. Amazon, which bought the franchise rights, is reportedly looking to lock in a new 007 before the end of this year, putting an end to years of speculation and rumors.
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