Gary Oldman Clarifies James Bond Comments: “I Do Not Know, But I’m Hoping It’s Jack”

Gary Oldman has reflected playfully on creating headlines around the world with his comments about the James Bond casting process.

In an interview with Canadian broadcaster Global over the weekend, Oldman claimed that 007 had been selected. Oldman added that he hoped his Slow Horses co-star Jack Lowden would get the role.

“It’s been rumored that he’s on the shortlist. 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. So my fingers are crossed for Jack.”

It was not clear from Oldman’s comments whether he meant that Lowden had been cast as Bond, or whether he was talking more generally about Amazon MGM Studios alighting on Ian Fleming’s secret agent.

Well, now we know. Speaking during a Visionaries session at TIFF, Oldman told Josh Horowitz that he does not know who will be playing Bond — but he stands by his suggestion that the role has been cast.

“There’s six people on a shortlist. I heard a rumor that they’ve picked James Bond, but they haven’t announced it yet, which is their prerogative,” Oldman said. “So I do not know [who has got the part], but I’m hoping it’s Jack.”

The Oscar winner joked that he had a “red phone” to the “Bond people” and, even if he did know the identity of 007, he would not reveal the state secret.

Oldman added that he learned his lesson after letting slip about the greenlight for The Dark Knight Rises, the third film in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. “I got reprimanded for that,” he said.

Asked if he would consider playing a Bond baddie, Oldman replied: “Don’t do drugs and Bond villains.”

Odds on Lowden becoming Bond shortened after Oldman’s remarks. Deadline reported over the summer that auditions were taking place for James Bond in August. Producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman, as well as director Denis Villeneuve, informed talent who had been shortlisted.

At the time, we reported that Harris Dickinson, Callum Turner, and Jacob Elordi fit the idea of Bond that Amazon MGM Studios had in mind.