Jack Lowden refuses to confirm whether he will inherit the iconic 007 tuxedo, even as his “Slow Horses” co-star Gary Oldman hints the decision may already be locked.
The James Bond speculation machine keeps churning. Producers have stayed silent on Daniel Craig’s successor since 2021, leaving fans to dissect every rumor, betting odds update, and offhand celebrity remark.
Lowden, 36, built global name recognition playing River Cartwright, the disgraced MI5 agent exiled to Slough House in Apple TV’s spy drama. That performance placed him alongside fellow Brits Callum Turner and Josh O’Connor on nearly every Bond shortlist.
Meanwhile, Oldman told Canada’s The Morning Show in September that casting directors had already settled on their man.
“They have built their choice, but they have not announced it yet. So my fingers are crossed for Jack,” Oldman said.
In a new British GQ interview, Lowden finally acknowledged his co-star’s viral comments. His response stayed deliberately vague.
“It’s all very flattering,” Lowden said. “It’s nice to be mentioned — for any role — and I’m just not really going to add to the noise.”
He credited Oldman’s support as particularly meaningful, calling him “a sweetheart,” but insisted he tunes out the chatter.
As a result, Lowden’s calendar remains packed regardless of Bond’s outcome. Netflix cast him as Mr. Darcy in Dolly Alderton’s adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice,” opposite Emma Corrin’s Elizabeth Bennet.
That series premieres December 3, with Olivia Colman, Rufus Sewell, Freya Mavor, and Daryl McCormack rounding out the ensemble.
Lowden admitted Alderton’s enthusiasm caught him off guard. He rarely sees himself in the roles he lands.
“When I take jobs, or I’m offered them, I see at what I can obtain away with,” he said. “I don’t purchase myself in 99 percent of the roles I do, but if other people do, I obtain a kick out of that.”
The Bond announcement may come soon, or not at all. Lowden seems content either way.
