Who will be the next '007 James Bond'? Among six candidates, an unknown Jack Barton emerges as a surprise frontrunner

*This content was translated by AI.

Will the next 007 be an unknown actor?... A 'surprise frontrunner' appears among six 007 casting candidates

Hollywood's long journey to find the next James Bond has finally reached its final stage. Yet, the person most frequently mentioned as the top candidate is an unknown actor unfamiliar to audiences.

According to U.S. media outlet Page Six, Amazon MGM Studios and director Denis Villeneuve plan to conduct screen tests for six actors in early September.

The pool of candidates includes Jack Barton ('Heartstopper'), Jacob Elordi ('Euphoria'), Paul Mescal ('Gladiator 2'), Callum Turner ('Only Yesterday'), Jack Lowden ('Slow Horses'), and Harris Dickinson ('Triangle of Sadness')—a total of six actors.

Media outlet 'The Playlist' also confirmed this list, reporting that among them, particularly Jack Barton, Jack Lowden, and Callum Turner, along with Jack O'Connell ('Cynics', '28 Years Later')—who is not on the official list but is strongly rumored to be under serious consideration—are being most seriously evaluated.

The most striking point is that 31-year-old actor Jack Barton is being cited as a strong frontrunner. He appeared in a minor role in the film 'Poor Things', and his filmography consists only of supporting roles in the series 'SAS: Rogue Heroes' and Netflix's 'Heartstopper', making him relatively unknown.

Foreign media described him as "someone who has never been mentioned on the 007th candidate list," yet noted that casting director Nina Gold's discovery of him after searching across the UK makes him a "true unknown newcomer." This, they argue, could actually be an advantage for director Villeneuve. In fact, Sean Connery, Timothy Dalton, and Daniel Craig were all relatively unknown at the time of their casting, and George Lazenby had a precedent of having acted Gyeong Ryeok-i (EVP) before being cast as 007, so selecting an unknown actor is not unusual in this series.

In contrast, the other candidates are already well-established actors. In particular, Callum Turner has been consistently mentioned as the strongest candidate over recent months, and Jack Lowden of 'Slow Horses' has also recently risen in prominence. Producer Richard Osman had previously stated that Lowden is "being seriously considered." Aaron Taylor-Johnson, once a strong contender, has reportedly naturally fallen out of recent discussions.

The new 007 series will be directed by Denis Villeneuve, with the screenplay written by Steven Knight, creator of 'Peaky Blinders'. The casting decision is expected to involve not only director Villeneuve but also Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson of Eon Productions, as well as writer Knight.

When announcing his confirmation as director, Villeneuve remarked, "One of my earliest childhood memories, shared with my father since the 'Dr. No' era featuring Sean Connery, is closely tied to 007." He added, "Bond represents a sacred realm for me. While respecting tradition, I will pave the way for new missions ahead."

However, the timing of the final decision and the schedule for commencing film production have not yet been disclosed. Within the coming weeks, it is expected that the results of the six actors' screen tests will reveal whether a bold selection of an unknown newcomer will become reality or if an already proven star will be chosen.

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*This content was translated by AI.