Prediction markets put the probability at 23%: Jack Lowden announced as next James Bond. Currently, markets see this as unlikely (23% YES). Video poster The next James Bond could be Slow Horses star Jack Lowden, according to Richard Osman.
Speculation over who will succeed Daniel Craig as James Bond intensified in August 2026 after British television presenter and novelist Richard Osman stated on his podcast The Rest Is Entertainment that Scottish actor Jack Lowden is being "strongly considered" for the role. Osman, who claimed insider knowledge, said the 36-year-old Lowden — best known for the MI5 drama Slow Horses — "would be an incredible Bond" with "real Daniel Craig energy." No casting has been officially announced, and the question of whether Jack Lowden will be announced as next James Bond remains open, with producers yet to confirm any shortlist. [Euronews, Aug 12]
The reports matter because they arrive as auditions for the next 007 reportedly get underway. Lowden, who first gained attention in the 2016 BBC adaptation of War & Peace and later appeared in Dunkirk and Mary Queen of Scots, reached his widest audience opposite Gary Oldman in Slow Horses. By August 17, bookmakers had installed him as the favourite for the first time at odds of 5/2, ahead of a field of roughly ten contenders. He would be the first Scottish Bond since Sean Connery, a comparison outlets repeatedly drew when covering the news that Jack Lowden could be announced as next James Bond. [Scotsman, Aug 17]
Despite the mounting attention, coverage has stressed that nothing is confirmed and Lowden remains one of several rumoured names rather than a settled choice. Commentators noted that the franchise, under new stewardship, has kept its casting process tightly guarded, and that podcast-sourced claims fall short of a studio decision. Whether Jack Lowden is announced as next James Bond will depend on the outcome of the reported auditions and any formal statement from the producers, neither of which had materialised as of mid-August 2026. Until an official confirmation is issued, the actor's status stays speculative. [GeekTyrant, Aug 13]
Lower-volume market on Polymarket ($56K). Wider spreads expected — enter with limit orders and be aware of slippage risk. Currently 23c YES.
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