James Bond: three finalists in the running and Elordi out

Three finalists for 007 and Elordi is out

The casting for the next James Bond has entered its decisive phase. Screen tests are being held in London and the field has been narrowed down to three names: Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Jack O'Connell. Jacob Elordi, one of the most talked-about candidates, is out of the race. The Hollywood Reporter broke the news, and the material opening this analysis picks it up, with a detail that helps explain the profile being sought: the studio wants an actor younger than the previous ones, British-born, and with a lower profile than Hollywood's biggest stars.

Who the three finalists are

The three contenders share more than just their first name. Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Jack O'Connell will do their tests this weekend in London, where stunts, screen presence and dialogue are being assessed. The British odds comparison platform Oddschecker puts Jack Lowden as the favourite in the final stretch, ahead of Turner. Lowden also has the added credential of having worked on the spy series Slow Horses, a résumé that, in the public imagination, connects with the tradition of British actors who leapt from TV espionage to the cinema: Roger Moore went from The Saint to Bond, and Pierce Brosnan did the same from Remington Steele.

The debate over the new Bond's profile

The discussion goes beyond the names. Some argue the character needs a racial or gender shake-up, while others outright believe the franchise is exhausted. Against that current, another camp defends a return to the classic Bond: gadgets, technology, cars and a proper capital-S spy, without what is perceived as ideological concessions. Jason Bourne also comes up in the comparison, credited with an approach more grounded in politics and the protagonist's emotional adaptation, with less technological paraphernalia. And a recurring figure in the conversation: Clive Owen, considered the Bond who never was, now past the age for the role.

The Bond girl and the rest of the cast

For the female lead, BetOnline points to Margaret Qualley, star of The Substance, trinc by Sydney Sweeney, Anya Taylor-Joy, Florence Pugh and Zendaya. The choice of leading man and his companion will shape the tone of a franchise that has been on screen for more than half a century and left the 007 role vacant in 2021, after the end of Daniel Craig's run with No Time to Die.

The casting remains open. The London tests were expected to decide the matter over the weekend, but no name has been confirmed. The only certainty is that Elordi is no longer on the list.