Gary Oldman has asserted that Amazon MGM Studios has already decided on the actor to embody the next James Bond. The British actor took the opportunity to publicly support one of his co-stars.

This Hollywood saga has been ongoing since Amazon's colossal acquisition of MGM in 2022 for a staggering $8.45 billion. After years of a standoff with the Broccoli family clan, Amazon finally gained full control over the James Bond franchise in 2025. Since then, one question has consistently resurfaced: who will Amazon MGM choose to succeed Daniel Craig (whose tenure ended in 2021)?

Creatively, we already know that Denis Villeneuve will direct James Bond 26 and that Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) will be penning the script. But for 007's identity, the parade of contenders has turned into a fashion show, from Jacob Elordi to Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and including Callum Turner and Harris Dickinson. It seems the wait might soon be over. At least, that's what Gary Oldman has just announced, and he took the opportunity to state that one of his Slow Horses co-stars is in the running.

In the meantime, there's the game 007 First Light to wait for

A Name for James Bond Soon?

During an interview with the Canadian show The Morning Show, Gary Oldman stated that his colleague Jack Lowden, who plays River Cartwright in the spy series Slow Horses, had also auditioned to secure the license to kill. So far, this wasn't entirely new, as it was rumored that the British actor was a serious contender for the role. However, as reported by Variety, Gary Oldman affirms that Amazon has officially made its choice:

**"*The rumor is that Jack [Lowden] is on the shortlist. We're going to know very soon, don't you think? Because they have chosen. They have made their choice, but they just haven't announced it yet. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Jack.*"**

It's worth remembering that Jack Lowden played Collins in Dunkirk, he was Sauron Forodwaith in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on Prime Video, and he will soon be seen on the small screen as Mr. Darcy in Netflix's Pride and Prejudice mini-series, expected to be released by the end of 2026.

Jack Lowden The Rings of Power

Fun fact, Lowden's wife is none other than Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird, Little Women). Recently, when interviewed by Empire, the Irish actress expressed her desire to play a villain in the next James Bond film. From there, it's a small step to imagine a toxic marital duel under the Riviera sun, directed by Denis Villeneuve – a step we'd gladly take.

Furthermore, when questioned on the subject by the BBC, screenwriter Steven Knight refused to confirm or deny that Amazon had made its choice. "*I can't talk about it, even though I'd like to*," he declared. And as the saying goes: silence implies consent. We can therefore legitimately assume that Jeff Bezos' company has already made its decision.

While Gary Oldman assures that the white smoke is about to emerge from Amazon's offices in the near future, we'll still have to wait before celebrating the arrival of a new 007. Amazon MGM Studios has not yet set an official release date for this James Bond 26.