The 5 finalists for the next James Bond, ranked

Now that Amazon has paid an exorbitant price for the James Bond franchise and made us all wait for what seems like an eternity to find out who will play the new 007, it’s almost time for an official announcement. At this point, many names have been discussed and hearings have been underway for some time. But it now appears that Amazon is preparing to name a successor to Daniel Craig.

Producers have reportedly narrowed down potential James Bond actors to five finalists, including Josh O’Connor, the star of “Disclosure Day” and “Wake Up Dead Man,” Callum Turner of “Fantastic Beasts” and “Eternity,” and Jack Lowden, who plays River Cartwright in TV’s best spy show, “Slow Horses.” The trio have reportedly screen tested alongside Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult, although at this point it’s not yet clear who will don the tuxedo and embark on a new mission for King and his country.

But that just means we have time to speculate a little more before an official announcement. Considering the fact that Craig’s “Casino Royale” casting sparked a backlash in the early 2000s, before he delivered the greatest James Bond film ever made, all of this should be taken with a pinch of salt. No one can say for sure how well-suited an actor is for a role, and whoever is cast, there is no doubt that they will pull out all the stops to bring England’s greatest spy to life. But Amazon MGM studios are certainly taking their time announcing the next Bond, so in the meantime, we might as well rank the favorites.

Nicholas Hoult has so far failed to play both Batman and Superman, losing the former to compatriot Robert Pattinson. As talented as he is, if we consider him alongside these other candidates, he should probably miss Bond as well.

That’s not to say he wouldn’t do a decent job in this role. Hoult has proven himself to be a versatile performer, delivering memorable villain roles in the 2024 crime thriller “The Order” and the critically acclaimed “Superman,” in which he played an intensely villainous tech bro, Lex Luthor. But there’s just something a little too childish about Hoult, and it’s not just the fact that he made his name as a child actor.

It all depends on what type of story director Denis Villeneuve has planned for his Bond film. Maybe Hoult has exactly what the “Dune” filmmaker is looking for. But generally speaking, not only does the British star seem to lack a bit of the courage needed to play a good 007, but he’s also already a well-known actor. The best Bonds have all been newcomers with a bit of a dark side. I’m sure Hoult could pull it off, but compared to the other favorites I just don’t see it.

Callum Turner isn’t the most recognizable face among the five Bond finalists, but I think that’s a good thing. Plus, while he has yet to deliver a definitive performance and could be considered perhaps a little forgettable based on his performances in the “Fantastic Beasts” films, I have a feeling that with 007, Turner could prove the naysayers wrong.

As Idles frontman Joseph Talbot sang, “I don’t care who the next James Bond is / He kills for country, the Queen and God / We don’t need another murderous mugger.” But what about a murderous spy from the working class? The best James Bond, Sean Connery, came a long way to becoming an actor, having grown up in the working-class area of ​​Edinburgh known as Fountainbridge before dropping out of school at 13 and considering a career as a professional footballer. When he debuted as 007, he was still a bit rough and that served him well in the role.

Turner also grew up on a council estate and, interestingly, he also embarked on a football career. As such, there is an authenticity and edge to the British actor. If Villeneuve can help him capitalize on this and Turner can find a new way to incorporate it into his performance (Connery, Timothy Dalton and Daniel Craig all brought a similar roughness to their portrayals of Bond), then he could make a great replacement for Craig.

At first glance, Robert Pattinson seems like a safe choice for Bond. A well-spoken London boy with a middle-class upbringing and a string of well-received performances – if Denis Villeneuve and the producers at Amazon MGM wanted to play it safe, Pattinson seems to be the man. But he’s an actor who, over the last decade especially, has consistently proven his ability to completely disappear into a role.

Since giving his most Pattinsonian performance in the Safdie Brothers’ “Good Time,” the actor has shown a particular affinity for playing creepy little weirdos, like the lascivious Reverend Preston Teagardin in “The Devil All the Time.” But he also had a convincing, understated role as the Dark Knight in “The Batman” and an eerie portrayal of “To Catch a Predator” host Chris Hanson in “Primetime.” At this point, Pattinson is easily one of the most talented chameleon actors around.

With that in mind, it’s impossible to imagine him dropping the ball with Bond. Pattinson always makes interesting choices and it hasn’t failed him yet. As confident as he may seem at first glance, he could prove to be the biggest wild card of the group and, unlike Nicholas Hoult, he is much more capable of completely disappearing into a role. That’s a major plus for anyone taking on Bond, which, coupled with everything Pattinson could bring to the role, surely makes him one of the most exciting candidates.

Josh O’Connor has all the makings of a great James Bond, even if they aren’t as obvious on the surface. One might look at the “Challengers” star and assume he doesn’t have the look to play 007, or that he’s not muscular enough. However, virtually every Bond actor who came before him has had to live in the shadow of the one who came before him. The worst thing producers can do is simply try to replicate Daniel Craig.

Moving to a guy like O’Connor would be an unexpected, but exciting, move. On the one hand, he meets all the requirements of James Bond according to the casting director. He may seem like a regular guy and, more importantly, he is a brilliant actor. He starred opposite Craig in last year’s “Wake Up Dead Man,” alongside some truly phenomenal established actors, and came face to face with each of them. So much so that he came out of this film with probably the best performance of all. It’s not nothing.

O’Connor is also responsible for some of the sexiest moments in “Challengers,” alongside Zendaya and Mike Faist. It can be sexy. He’s a great actor. He starred in action films like “Disclosure Day.” He is also not so famous for building a fixed perception among the public. He can make Bond his own and adapt to the role, whilst clearly being a very different actor from the man who came before him. O’Connor is, using history as a guide, perfect for the job.

“Slow Horses” is one of the best spy shows on television. Although much of this is due to an unforgettable performance from Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb’s delightfully disheveled River Cartwright, Jack Lowden has quietly established himself as one of Britain’s finest actors.

The Scottish star plays his misfit detective with an intriguing mix of world-weariness and ambition, creating a fully realized performance that is one of the best parts of “Slow Horses.” His season 6 relationship with Olivia Cooke’s Sidonie Baker was one of the most surprising aspects of the entire series — a testament to both actors’ talent for compelling emotional performances. He’s also more than proven that he has a keen comic sense that allows him to express the sardonic wit of author Mick Herron, originally from the “Slough House” novels and omnipresent in the Apple TV series adaptation.

Bond is obviously a very different character. But Lowden has demonstrated talent like River, clearly has major potential and is not yet a major star. Add to that his ability to deliver darkly funny dialogue and his naturalistic sensibility that made River feel so human, and Lowden is surely Bond’s most exciting prospect. I’d be fascinated to see what he does as 007, more than anyone else on this list, and that’s why he’s here at number one.