It is normal, when there is a new Bond actor about to step into the role, that the press goes a little bit crazy. Every single showbiz journalist from Sydney to LA will claim an “insider” told them something, or that their “sources” say some things. This is despite the fact that the casting process is traditionally locked down tight.
In the last two weeks, it was claimed that it was done deal, with Jack Lowden. Then the British tabloids decided that Callum Turner stepping down from his own production company was the sign they had all been waiting for. Finally, to make up the full set, the press then got wind of a rumor that Josh O’Connor had got the role, based on a random comment to a friend.
It was crazy enough back in the 1990s, and again in the early 2000s, and that was before there were 1001 online outlets and social media feeds. This time around, it is nearly impossible to sort the noise from the signal.
What is known is that the old home of Hammer Horror, Bray Studios in the UK, was the location for final screen tests for Amazon MGM Studios.
All the stories said there were four contenders: Jack Lowden, Callum Turner, Josh O’Connor, and a mysterious fourth person. Previously rumoured Jacob Elordi and Jack O’Connell were ruled out.
Then at the end of the week, The Hollywood Reporter set a cat among the pigeons, saying that there were actually two “mystery” actors on top of the named three, and they are both well-established stars.
Jonathan Bailey, Dev Patel and Taron Egerton were names thrown about. Somebody even mentioned Tom Holland. It turns out that these were wide of the mark. The two actors who also auditioned for Denis Villeneuve at Bray are allegedly Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult.
40-year-old Pattinson screen tested on that week, while filming was paused nearby on The Batman: Part II. Pattinson recently worked with Villeneuve on Dune: Part Three and apparently they worked together very well.
Now Variety has reported that Harry Styles has “had discussions about the part” and 41-year-old Theo James (The Gentleman) also “hasn’t been ruled out”.
Potentially this could be either the typical throwing of names at the wall by the trade press, making sure their coverage is wide enough that they can say they were right when the name is announced, or Villeneuve also deciding to put some more established, and slightly older, stars through their paces to see how the “new” guys stack up against them.
There are probably another few weeks of speculation to go before the new 007 is revealed. Look for a high profile, but last minute press conference to surface, probably at Pinewood Studios.
