Amazon MGM is closing in on its next James Bond, and the surprise frontrunner is not Jacob Elordi or Paul Mescal. It is Jack Barton, a 31-year-old British actor best known for a supporting role in Netflix’s Heartstopper.
The reported shortlist is down to seven names
Screen tests are underway and the shortlist is now reportedly down to around seven names, mixing established stars with a relative newcomer. Alongside Barton, the familiar names in play include Jack Lowden, Jacob Elordi, Callum Turner, Paul Mescal and Harris Dickinson, with Jack O’Connell also said to be in the mix, with ages ranging from 29-year-old Elordi to the 36-year-olds Lowden and Turner.
| Name | Age | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Jacob Elordi | 29 | Euphoria, Priscilla |
| Paul Mescal | 30 | Normal People, Gladiator II |
| Harris Dickinson | 30 | Triangle of Sadness |
| Jack Barton | 31 | Heartstopper, Poor Things |
| Jack Lowden | 36 | Dunkirk, Slow Horses |
| Callum Turner | 36 | Masters of the Air |
Why an unknown could beat the A-listers
The preference for a fresh face is not accidental. Amazon MGM, which already has its sights on other mega-franchises such as a God of War series, is reportedly looking for a younger actor who can carry the franchise across at least five films over the next decade, much like Daniel Craig’s 15-year run. Multiple studio executives told Page Six the same thing, and reports last year said director Denis Villeneuve was seeking “an unknown” British actor for the part.
Retired Bond casting director Debbie McWilliams argued to The Independent that it is essential that Bond retains a total enigma, noting that recognizable stars are already too well known to the audience. “We want to know as little about them personally as possible, because that’s what spies are,” she said.
Who is Jack Barton?
Barton trained at the Oxford School of Drama and has been acting for only about six years. His best-known credit is David in Heartstopper, the on-screen brother of Kit Connor’s character, a role he reprised in the franchise’s feature-length conclusion. He also appeared as “Fop 1” in the acclaimed film Poor Things and starred in the second series of SAS: Rogue Heroes, a show written by Steven Knight, who is now writing the new Bond script. Beyond sharing the same initials as the superspy, little is known about him.
What happens next
Further screen tests are expected in September. Bond 26 producer Amy Pascal recently said that “the end of the year is a good bet” for the new actor’s announcement. Villeneuve, whose Dune: Part Three lands in December, is attached to direct, with production expected to start in 2027 and a release planned for 2028.
A word of caution
Casting rumors have burned people before. In 2025, Scott Rose-Marsh was widely reported to have screen-tested for Bond, only for Deadline to later suggest the tip may have been a hoax. Neither Amazon MGM nor Barton’s representatives have commented on the current shortlist, so treat every name, including the frontrunner, as unconfirmed until an official announcement.
