Is Jack Lowden really the next James Bond? Richard Osman sends 007 rumours into overdrive

The Scottish actor has played MI5 agent River Cartwright in ‘Slow Horses’ since the Apple TV+ drama began

The race to become the next James Bond has taken another unexpected turn after television presenter Richard Osman named Scottish actor Jack Lowden as the latest contender for the coveted 007 role.

Osman discussed the speculation on his podcast The Rest Is Entertainment, where he said he had been told who the new Bond could be. Although he initially suggested that his information was definite, he quickly qualified the claim and stressed that Lowden had not been officially chosen.

"Someone told me for definite who the new Bond is the other day, but I mean that’s happened before," Osman said. "The name I’ve heard is Jack Lowden."

He then clarified that Lowden had not secured the part, saying the actor was "definitely being strongly considered". Osman also backed the 36 year old actor personally, describing him as an "incredible Bond" and saying he had "real Daniel Craig energy".

The comments quickly pushed Lowden into the centre of the James Bond conversation. However, there has been no official confirmation from Amazon MGM Studios that he has been selected to replace Daniel Craig, who completed his five film run as 007 with No Time to Die in 2021.

Lowden already has an unusually strong connection to the world of British espionage. He has played MI5 agent River Cartwright in Slow Horses since the Apple TV+ series premiered in 2022. The role has given him extensive experience portraying a British intelligence officer, although Cartwright operates within MI5 rather than the overseas focused MI6 world occupied by Bond.

His film career also includes Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk, where he played RAF pilot Collins, as well as Mary Queen of Scots and Benediction. He is also due to play Mr Darcy in Netflix’s forthcoming adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

Another detail has added interest to the speculation. Bond casting director Nina Gold has worked on Slow Horses, meaning she is already familiar with Lowden’s performance and screen presence. That connection does not confirm anything about the current casting process, but it has fuelled further discussion around his candidacy.

Lowden is joining a crowded field of actors who have been linked with the role since Craig announced his departure. Names including Callum Turner, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Jacob Elordi, Harris Dickinson, Jack O’Connell and Louis Partridge have all featured in recent speculation surrounding the next 007.

The Bond search is being handled by a new creative team. Denis Villeneuve is attached to direct the next film, while Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is writing the screenplay. The project is being developed under Amazon MGM Studios after the studio took creative control of the franchise from long time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson.

Producer Amy Pascal has previously indicated that audiences could learn the identity of the next Bond by the end of 2026. She has also stressed that the selection process is being handled carefully because following Craig is a considerable challenge.

"We are being really, really methodical," Pascal said, adding that Craig was "a hard act to follow". She also said the next Bond needed to feel "really different" while being "stirring and exciting".

That description leaves plenty of room for speculation. Lowden fits several familiar Bond requirements, including his Scottish background, established acting career and experience portraying an intelligence officer. At the same time, his relatively understated profile could allow the franchise to introduce a leading man who is recognisable without being one of Hollywood’s biggest established stars.

For now, however, Lowden remains a rumoured contender rather than the confirmed successor to Craig. Osman’s comments have intensified interest in his chances, but the official decision is still pending.

With Amazon MGM Studios expected to reveal its choice later this year, the latest Bond mystery has once again given fans plenty to debate. For the moment, Jack Lowden’s name is firmly in the conversation, but 007’s next face remains officially unknown.