Has the next James Bond been found? Author Richard Osman names ‘Slow Horses’ star Jack Lowden as a serious 007 contender

LONDON, August 13 — Television presenter and author Richard Osman has revealed that the Scottish actor Jack Lowden is being "strongly considered" for the role of James Bond, following claims from Osman on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast. Lowden, 36, is the latest actor to be linked with the prestigious role, succeeding Daniel Craig.

Osman's comments come after Osman initially teased that he had been told "for definite" who the next Bond would be, but later clarified that the information was not definitive. Osman praised Lowden's "Daniel Craig energy" and believes he would be an "incredible Bond." Lowden is best known for his role as MI5 agent River Cartwright in Apple TV+ spy drama Slow Horses and has also appeared in films such as Dunkirk, Mary Queen of Scots, and the upcoming Netflix adaptation of Pride & Prejudice.

Casting director Nina Gold, who is overseeing the search for Bond's successor, previously worked with Lowden on Slow Horses. While Lowden joins a list of actors previously linked to the role, including Tom Hardy and Henry Cavill, Osman cautioned that fan favorites should be treated with caution, as audiences had rarely predicted the eventual choice correctly.

The next Bond film, directed by Dune filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, is set to usher in a new era for the franchise, with producer Amy Pascal emphasizing the need for a "stirring and exciting" new actor to fill the shoes of Craig.