Jack Lowden Keeps Quiet as Bond Screen Tests Wrap in London
The actor downplays rumors of his selection for the next James Bond film while his wife Saoirse Ronan maintains a similar stance on the speculation.
By Camila Herrera ·
Actor Jack Lowden has refused to confirm or deny reports that he will star in the next James Bond film.
The casting process for the role has drawn public attention over the past several months. In September, Gary Oldman, who plays Lowden’s character in the series Slow Horses, told The Morning Show that the role had already been cast. Oldman expressed hope that the choice was Lowden, saying, “They have made their choice, but they have not announced it yet. So my fingers are crossed for Jack.” A source later informed The Hollywood Reporter that the decision had not been finalized at that time.
Screen tests for the Amazon MGM Studios project were scheduled for late October in London. The film is set to be directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Steven Knight. Early speculation included names such as Josh O’Connor, Callum Turner, and Jack O’Connell. Sources indicated that O’Connell was not testing, and Jacob Elordi was also excluded from the final group.
In an interview with British GQ published on Monday, Lowden addressed the rumors. He described the attention as flattering but said he did not want to add to the conversation. “It’s nice to be mentioned, for any role, and I’m just not really going to add to the noise,” he stated. He also praised Oldman, noting, “Gary’s a sweetheart. It’s particularly lovely, coming from someone like him.”
Casting director Nina Gold is leading the search for the new Bond actor. Gold previously cast Lowden in his breakout role in Slow Horses. Lowden’s wife, Saoirse Ronan, has also kept the topic low-key. In October, Ronan told the Associated Press that the speculation is not a frequent subject at home, adding that daily tasks like walking the dog and making dinner take precedence.
The interview coincided with the release of Lowden’s new series Pride and Prejudice on Netflix. Lowden plays Mr. Darcy in the adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel. He discussed his approach to roles, explaining that he often takes parts where he is not the obvious first choice. “I’m not everybody’s first choice for most of the roles I’ve played, and I quite enjoy that,” he said.
