Gary Oldman Drops 007 Bombshell—Has The Next James Bond Already Been Secretly Chosen?

The martinis may already be shaken, the tuxedo may already be fitted-and Hollywood may simply be waiting for permission to reveal the identity of its next James Bond.

Gary Oldman has sent the 007 rumor mill into overdrive by claiming that the actor who will replace Daniel Craig has already been selected. However, the Oscar winner stopped short of naming the mystery man, leaving Bond fans to wonder whether his Slow Horses co-star Jack Lowden has quietly won the most coveted role in British cinema.

"They have made their choice, but they have not announced it yet," Oldman said while promoting the latest season of Slow Horses. Asked about Lowden's chances, he added that his "fingers are crossed" for the 36-year-old Scottish actor.

That was more than enough to ignite speculation. Oldman and Lowden have worked together on Apple TV's acclaimed espionage drama since 2022, with Lowden playing ambitious MI5 agent River Cartwright opposite Oldman's spectacularly disheveled spymaster Jackson Lamb. If anyone has seen Lowden handle secrets, danger and British intelligence up close, it is Oldman.

Still, Oldman did not confirm that Lowden has landed the role. Amazon MGM Studios has made no official casting announcement, and Lowden has remained silent amid the growing frenzy. Other actors linked to Bond include Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Paul Mescal, Harris Dickinson and reported surprise contender Jack Barton.

Lowden nevertheless comes with an intriguing Bond connection of his own. His wife, four-time Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan, has previously expressed interest in entering the 007 universe-not as Bond's love interest, but as a villain. If Lowden really has secured the tuxedo, could the married couple eventually find themselves facing each other across a Bond villain's lair?

The next installment will launch a dramatically different era for the franchise. Amazon MGM now holds creative control following longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson's decision to step back. Dune filmmaker Denis Villeneuve is directing, while Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is writing the screenplay. Amy Pascal and Harry Potter producer David Heyman are overseeing the production.

Craig bowed out in explosive fashion with 2021's No Time to Die, concluding a five-film run that began with Casino Royale. The question of who could possibly follow him has since become one of Hollywood's favorite guessing games.

Oldman may not have revealed the answer, but he appears convinced that somebody already knows it. Now Bond fans must wait for Amazon MGM to finally open its classified file-and discover whether Jack Lowden has been operating as 007 in secret all along.