It’s safe to say that James Bond is one of the most iconic fictional characters of all time – so he needs no introduction - but it’s been five years since Daniel Craig bowed out as 007, and we’re still as clear as custard on what happens next.

While Amazon taking over the rights to the franchise was confirmed some time ago, there has been little to no press on who might actually be taking up the mantle of the super-spy for a new generation of movies. Plus, will the next movie be a no-nonsense thriller, or will it hark back to some of the goofier turns from Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan?

Given that we’ve been in the dark for so long now, it’s safe to say that the next Bond is perhaps the most-anticipated. Auditions are reportedly well underway - but hasn’t that been the case for a while now?

At the time of writing, however, an unlikely source may have let the cat out of the bag… do we finally have Bond’s new face locked down?

Speaking via The Rest is Entertainment podcast, broadcaster and host Richard Osman revealed that he’s been informed of the next actor to step into 007’s shoes - but that “it’s happened before”. Therefore, we should probably take this with a grain of salt!

Osman revealed that he’s been informed that Jack Lowden, perhaps best known for Slow Horses, is a “strong consideration”. It’s news that goes against many of the bookmakers’ odds we’ve seen over the months, nay years - with Callum Turner, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jacob Elordi, and Henry Cavill all having been in the frame for the longest time.

Speculation has gone on for so long that Sir Idris Elba - once considered a shoo-in for the role when the position first opened up – has ruled himself out of the race. Speculation is still rife, too, over whether Bond will be played by a female actor this time around.

Amazon MGM, which has had control of the franchise since early 2025, has promised a “fresh” direction for the long-standing series. Speculation about cinematic universes and linked TV shows abounds, but we’re still no clearer on what Amazon Bond is going to actually look like.

When will we see a new Bond movie?

It’s looking unlikely that we’ll see Bond’s next adventure until at least 2028, which will be seven years since Craig was last seen driving the iconic Aston Martin in No Time To Die. If that’s the case, it will be the longest gap between Bond movies on record – meaning there’s considerable pressure on the new production team to stick the landing on what’s increasingly being positioned as a “refresh”.

And yet, Bond endured (maybe even thrived) after a six-year gulf between the end of Timothy Dalton’s run and the start of Pierce Brosnan’s. So, whoever picks up the 007 mantle next, maybe we should give them the benefit of the doubt. Stay tuned!