Next 007 should be a gorgeous man, says Bond girl

Samuel MontgomeryMon, September 14, 2026 at 4:40 PM UTC

0

Sean Connery played Bond, James Bond seven times - Snap/Shutterstock

“We have all the time in the world,” Louis Armstrong croons in the closing credits to No Time to Die.

Five years after Daniel Craig’s last outing as James Bond, the custodians of the franchise appear ready to unveil his successor, and one Bond girl has urged them to choose a “gorgeous man”.

Alison Papworth, who starred opposite Roger Moore in For Your Eyes Only (1981) and Octopussy (1983), told Fox News: “We’re all waiting with bated breath. If they’re true to the books, I hope it’s a man...

“I think it would be very strange if it were a woman. Don’t you? It would be a totally different thing. So, I hope it’s another man, another gorgeous man.”

Amazon MGM Studios, which gained creative control of the spy franchise from Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli in 2025, officially began casting in May.

Denis Villeneuve, the French-Canadian director best known for Prisoners, Arrival and the Dune series, is at the helm of the next instalment, with Steven Knight, of Peaky Blinders acclaim, writing the screenplay.

Last week, Gary Oldman hinted that Jack Lowden, his co-star in Slow Horses, was in the running for 007.

“Jack, it’s been rumoured that he’s on the shortlist,” he told Canada’s The Morning Show, adding: “We’re going to find out pretty soon, aren’t we?

Advertisement

“Because they have picked him. They have made their choice, but they have not announced it yet. So, my fingers are crossed for Jack.”

The actor later rowed back on his comments, saying: “There’s six people on a shortlist.

“I heard a rumour that they’ve picked James Bond, but they haven’t announced it yet, which is their prerogative. So, I do not know [who has got the part], but I’m hoping it’s Jack.”

Mr Lowden has recently surged ahead as the odds-on favourite to become the eighth actor to play 007. Jack Barton, best known for SAS: Rogue Heroes and Netflix’s Heartstopper, has also become a late frontrunner.

Others touted for the role include Callum Turner, Jack O’Connell, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Harris Dickinson.

Ireland’s Paul Mescal and Australia’s Jacob Elordi are also rumoured, while Theo James and Henry Cavill have ruled themselves out as too old.

Pierce Brosnan, who held the role from 1995 to 2004, said the producers could still pick an unheard-of actor.

He told The Times: “There are lots of good hats in the ring. Lots of great actors. I see it. I follow it. They could probably just go left-field and pick someone that none of us know about.”

Auditions for the role have been taking place since the beginning of summer with the help of Nina Gold, the Oscar-nominated British casting veteran known for her work on Game of Thrones, The Crown and The Day of the Jackal.

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”