James Bond: Who is the mystery actor ‘competing with Callum Turner and Jack Lowden’ to play 007?

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Reports suggest at least four actors are testing for the role of James Bond, with screen tests taking place last weekend to determine who will play one of cinema’s most coveted roles.

But while the reports Deadline And The Hollywood Reporter has named three of the actors reportedly testing – Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Josh O’Connor – the name of the fourth actor has not been confirmed.

This has led to much speculation about the identity of this mysterious fourth man. To try to get to the bottom of this, we’ve put together a list of possible suspects, along with at least two big British names already ruled out.

Credible suspects

Jack O’Connell

While THE Hollywood journalist said that the Sinners “She was initially rumored to be in the mix, but that’s apparently not the case, sources say” There has been speculation online that all these similar-sounding names floating around may have confused everyone a little. What if Josh O’Connor didn’t test Bond and Jack O’Connell? East? Especially when O’Connor hasn’t been linked to 007 as much in the past as his apparent rivals, and because he’s starring in a play in London right now – which probably makes the in-person screen tests last weekend slightly tricky.

Jack Barton

Of all the many names mooted for Bond, this 31-year-old unknown emerged as a sudden and somehow credible candidate for the role. In August, page six of The New York Post released a report on the impending Bond tests and claimed that a large number of actors were expected to take part. They included the usual names – like Callum Turner – but also Jack Barton, who appeared in Favorite And Poor things. He also starred in the second series of BBC One. SAS: Rogue Hero last year – a show written by none other than new Bond scribe Steven Knight. Hmm.

Joe Alwyn

Reddit sleuths suggested the Hamnet And The favorite The star may be this mysterious fourth actor, not least because of his ties to Bond casting director Nina Gold. “She… chose Joe for her first film role,” one article reads. “She’s known him since drama school.” It’s not a particularly convincing rumor, but if true, it would at least spare us a Bond theme from Alwyn’s very famous ex, Taylor Swift.

Probably no

Jacob Elordi

Although this in no way suggests the Frankenstein the star is not involved in the new Bond (for all we know he could have been considered a villain), the Hollywood journalist claimed last week that Elordi was not in the running for the role. Or, as they say, “don’t test” – could this be a bit of a bluff? Time will tell.

Harris Dickinson

As shared on Reddit this week, the original Hollywood journalist The story that excluded Elordi was reprinted in the site’s subscriber newsletter, but also mentioned that Little girl Star Harris Dickinson is no longer in the running for Bond. This matches July claims about film journalist Jeff Sneider Hot microphone podcast (via Coil World) that Dickinson had withdrawn his name, apparently citing exhaustion from filming four Beatles films – he played John Lennon – consecutively. Sneider also called this a blow to Bond producers, with Dickinson previously seen as a highly desirable candidate for the job.

Nicolas Hoult

Also mentioned in this same Hollywood journalist the newsletter was Superman And X-Men star Nicholas Hoult, who on paper would probably have made a great Bond. But alas, the site claimed he was not in the running.

The new Bond film, directed by DuneDenis Villeneuve, follows Daniel Craig’s latest outing as Bond in No time to die, which was released in October 2021 after being delayed by the pandemic.

With speculation rife about who would take 007’s place, Amazon made a controversial purchase of the franchise’s longtime backers MGM Studios in January 2025, effectively taking control of the much-loved series.