The next James Bond appears to have been cast, with screenwriter Steven Knight suggesting he already knows the identity of the actor who will replace Daniel Craig as 007.
Knight, the creator of Peaky Blinders, is writing the 26th Bond film and was asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme whether he had written the script with the chosen actor in mind.
“It’s a bit of both,” he said. “It does make life a little bit easier if you know who that person is, but also you have to write the character, not the actor.”
He declined to name the performer, but added that Bond existed in “its own universe and own franchise”, describing the decision to work on the film as a duty for a British writer.
The comments follow claims by Gary Oldman that producers have already made their choice. Speaking about his Slow Horses co-star Jack Lowden on Canada’s The Morning Show, Oldman said: “They have made their choice, but they have not announced it yet.”
Oldman did not say that Lowden had secured the role, instead making clear that he was hoping the Scottish actor would be chosen. “It’s been rumoured that he’s on the shortlist,” he said. “We’re going to find out pretty soon, aren’t we? Because they have picked him.”
Lowden, 36, has emerged as one of the leading names linked with the part. Richard Osman recently said on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast that he had heard the actor was being “strongly considered”, adding that Lowden had “real Daniel Craig energy” and would be “sensational” as Bond.
However, Amazon MGM Studios has yet to announce the new 007. In May, the studio said the search was under way and that it would not comment on specific details during the casting process.
The new film will be directed by Denis Villeneuve, with Amy Pascal and David Heyman producing, while Knight continues work on the screenplay. Craig’s final appearance as Bond was in No Time To Die, released in 2021. ([aboutamazon.com](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/entertainment/next-james-bond-movie-latest-updates?utm_source=openai))
