Gary Oldman, 68, has stated that the next actor to portray James Bond has already been selected, though the public announcement is pending.
"It's been rumored that he's on the shortlist," Oldman said on Canada's The Morning Show. "We're going to find out pretty soon, aren't we? Because they have picked him. They have made their choice, but they have not announced it yet."
Lowden, 36, has been frequently mentioned as a leading contender for the iconic role. Producers are reportedly "strongly considering" the Scottish actor, who also stars alongside Oldman in Apple TV+'s "Slow Horses."
Speculation surrounding Daniel Craig's successor has intensified since Amazon MGM Studios announced in May that auditions were underway. The task of casting the next Bond now rests with casting director Nina Gold and director Denis Villeneuve.
Richard Osman, a presenter and writer, also suggested he has heard who might take on the role. "Someone told me for definite who the new Bond is the other day," Osman shared on his podcast, "The Rest Is Entertainment." "The name I've heard is Jack Lowden."
Osman cautioned that while Lowden is "definitely being strongly considered," it is not a certainty. He praised the actor, stating, "I think he'd be amazing" and noted that Lowden possesses "real Daniel Craig energy," combining capabilities for both humor and action.
Lowden, who appeared in Christopher Nolan's "Dunkirk," is also slated to star as Mr. Darcy in an upcoming Netflix adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice."
Lowden's wife, actress Saoirse Ronan, 32, has previously expressed her support for her husband potentially taking on the Bond role. During a 2024 BBC Radio 2 show, Ronan responded to the suggestion by her friend Edith Bowman that Lowden would be a great choice, joking about Bowman's long-standing advocacy for him.
Ronan also expressed interest in playing a Bond villain, telling Empire magazine, "I want to go dark." She believes a young female villain could offer an interesting dramatic perspective, especially for female audiences, by channeling anger and directing it purposefully. "I would love to do more of that," she added.