We might finally be nearing an end to all of the James Bond speculation, and thank goodness for it. Page Six has a list of names who will be testing with director Denis Villeneuve and Amazon MGM for the 007 role in Bond 26, and many of them are actors we’ve been hearing about for months. However, there’s apparently an unexpected frontrunner who has definitely not been on a lot of radars.
The shortlist of actors testing for James Bond in September includes Jack Barton, Jack Lowden, Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Paul Mescal and Harris Dickinson.
Turner, who can be seen right now in One Night Only, has been the most talked-about candidate if you believe the rumor mill. Lowden, one of the stars of Slow Horses, has recently emerged as a strong contender. Mescal, Dickinson, and Elordi have been talked about as potentials for ages, and are the most recognizable names by far.
However, the surprising name that is apparently top of the list is Jack Barton. The UK actor is best known for starring in Steven Knight’s SAS: Rogue Heroes series alongside Connor Swindells, Jack O’Connell, and Alfie Allen, three guys who might not be bad options for James Bond, either. O’Connell has been mentioned for it many times.
Barton can also be seen in Netflix’s hit rom-com series, Heartstopper, alongside newly minted X-Men star Kit Connor.
It’s that Barton is a relative unknown that attracted casting director Nina Gold as she looked for someone just like him to fill Daniel Craig’s shoes. Something tells me Villeneuve would prefer someone like Barton rather than an established name, someone he can build into a superstar. I’m not sure Amazon MGM feels the same way about that. Big names tend to bring in more dough.
So I imagine Jack Barton’s name is at the top of a lot of Google searches today. If he’s been staying undercover and out of the Hollywood spotlight, that time in the shade is over.
