The new James Bond is "picked", claims Hollywood icon

According to an Oscar-winning actor, the extensive/exhaustive search for the next James Bond is over.

Gary Oldman has said publicly that he’s hoping his Slow Horses co-star Jack Lowden is the name that will soon be released.

“It’s been rumored that [Lowden] is on the shortlist,” Oldman said this week in an interview with Canada’s The Morning Show. 

“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.”

As of now, the next 007 hasn't been officially confirmed.

Rumours have been circulating for yers about the much-anticipated next Bond, after Daniel Craig completed his run as the character.

Now, with the next James Bond installment set to go into production next year, speculation gone into overdrive.

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The next James Bond 007

Actors Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Harris Dickinson and Lowden have all been reported as among those in the final running. 

Variety suggested that there had been interest in Louis Partridge, and that Tom Francis had reportedly auditioned. 

The next to fill the iconic role has been kept firmly confidential, with Amazon MGM repeatedly declining to discuss anything about it.

Hence the press and social media excitement.

But we do know that director Denis Villeneuve will direct the next Bond film, written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.

In more evidence that Lowden is the next 007, his wife, the acclaimed actor Saoirse Ronan, last month talked about playing a James Bond villian. 

She said in an Empire magazine interview: 

“I think it would be really interesting, having a young female villain.

 “Especially for girls and women, to see someone who can just take all that pent-up anger and direct it somewhere, there’s something interesting in that dramatically. 

"So I would love to do more of that.”

"More" of that? Well, time will tell.