James Bond fans think they know who the 'mystery' actor in final 007 auditions is

Since an update on the James Bond casting was shared last week, hinting at an unknown contender for the role of 007 included in the final screen tests, fans have started speculating about who that might be – and there's one name that keeps coming up.

After endless rumours about the successor to Daniel Craig, who bowed out from his Bond duties in 2021's No Time To Die, it appears that we're finally in the last stages of the casting race.

Earlier this month, Deadline reported that Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Josh O'Connor plus a mystery man were offered screen tests from Bond bosses at Amazon MGM Studios. Amazon took over the spy franchise from longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson as part of a joint venture announced in early 2025.

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On Reddit, Bond fans offered their theories as to who the mystery fourth potential Bond star could be, with Joe Alwyn being named as a possible contender.

Alwyn, known for Conversations with Friends, The Brutalist, and Hamnet, has been a quiet name in the Bond race, but one fan commented: "Never thought about him as a contender before, but it makes sense."

Another Redditor argued that the mystery actor, whoever they are, has "already" landed the part, hence why their identity remains a secret at this stage.

Reports seem to have been excluding previous Bond favourites, including Ink star Jack O'Connell, from these final auditions. Other names that have been in the mix included Aaron Pierre, Richard Madden, Harris Dickinson, James Norton, Theo James, Idris Elba and Sunset Boulevard stage star Tom Francis.

Last summer producer Amy Pascal said that an announcement could be made before the end of the year, and Amazon previously said in a statement: "The search for the next James Bond is under way. While we don't plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we're excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right."

The new Bond film will be directed by Dune's Denis Villeneuve and penned by Peaky Blinders' Steven Knight.

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Reporter, Digital Spy

Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy. 

Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).