The wait for the next James Bond may finally be coming to an end. According to reports circulating behind the scenes in Hollywood, Amazon MGM Studios is preparing to officially announce Daniel Craig’s successor next week, or by early November at the latest. After months of speculation, screen tests, and a seemingly endless list of candidates, two names have emerged as frontrunners: Jacob Elordi and Jack Lowden. There are also rumors of a third actor whose identity remains a mystery. For now, the only certainty is that the choice promises to be divisive, whoever wins.

According to journalist Jeff Sneider, camera tests have reportedly been completed, with Elordi emerging as the leading contender. World of Reel has also reported hearing the names of Elordi, Lowden, and an unidentified third candidate. Naturally, nothing has been officially announced, but the latest developments suggest that the long search for the next 007 is entering its final stages. Interestingly, the two main candidates represent very different possibilities for the franchise’s future.

Jacob Elordi, the 29-year-old Australian actor, seemed almost an obvious choice when his name first entered the conversation. Tall, elegant, with an imposing physical presence and a rapidly rising career, he possesses many of the qualities traditionally associated with Ian Fleming’s famous spy. His performance in Euphoria revealed an intensity he further explored in Saltburn and Frankenstein, while Wuthering Heights reinforced his position as one of the most sought-after leading men of his generation. The problem, if we can call it that, is that Elordi may have become too big to play James Bond. And I’m not just talking about his 6-foot-5 height.

Elordi is already a star with a recognizable identity, an established audience, and a level of visibility that could present a challenge for a franchise traditionally accustomed to turning its leading actors into global phenomena. Sean Connery wasn’t an international star when he took on the role in 1962. Roger Moore was known for his television work, Timothy Dalton had considerable acting credentials, Pierce Brosnan had gained popularity through Remington Steele, and Daniel Craig, although respected, was far from the global superstar he would eventually become. In all these cases, James Bond was bigger than the actor when he was cast. With Elordi, that relationship might not be quite so straightforward.

This is precisely where Jack Lowden becomes such an interesting alternative. At 36, the Scottish actor has experience, prestige, talent, and international recognition, but he has yet to become the kind of star whose public image overshadows his characters. He is familiar enough to generate interest and unfamiliar enough to allow audiences to rediscover him as James Bond. That combination may be exactly what Amazon is looking for.

The timing also works in his favor. The sixth season of Slow Horses has just concluded, bringing Lowden back into the spotlight as River Cartwright, the talented, impulsive, and frequently unfortunate intelligence officer trying to survive the ruthless world of British espionage. Throughout the series, Lowden has demonstrated his ability to balance action, humor, vulnerability, and a distinctly British sense of irony, all essential qualities for a convincing James Bond. Perhaps his greatest advantage is that he has already won over audiences by playing a spy who is anything but perfect.

Of course, River Cartwright is not James Bond. River gets himself into trouble, makes mistakes, and frequently depends on Jackson Lamb to rescue him from dangerous situations. Bond, on the other hand, built his reputation as the man who knows exactly what he’s doing, even when everything appears to be falling apart. But there is something compelling about the comparison: Lowden has already proved that he can portray a secret agent without relying exclusively on charm, physical strength, or arrogance. He can bring humanity to a character who might otherwise be just another action hero.

Even Gary Oldman, his Slow Horses co-star, has joined the campaign. The actor publicly expressed his support for Lowden as the next 007 and fueled speculation by suggesting that the decision might already have been made. It’s a powerful endorsement, particularly from an actor who knows the world of British espionage so well, from George Smiley in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy to Jackson Lamb.

There is also a symbolic element to Lowden’s potential casting: he would become another Scottish actor to take on the role immortalized by Sean Connery. That doesn’t mean his nationality should determine the decision, but it would certainly be an irresistible detail for longtime fans of the franchise.

However, choosing the next James Bond involves much more than finding an actor who looks good in a tuxedo, knows how to handle a gun, or can deliver the famous introduction without sounding like a caricature. Amazon MGM is preparing the franchise’s first major transformation since taking creative control. Denis Villeneuve will direct, Steven Knight is writing the screenplay, and producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman will face the challenge of preserving one of the most valuable brands in cinema history while attempting to reinvent it for a different generation.

And that is precisely what makes the decision so delicate. Daniel Craig didn’t simply play James Bond: he redefined the character. His 007 was more violent, vulnerable, emotionally scarred, and less concerned with maintaining the impeccable image of an invincible secret agent. Casino Royale transformed a franchise that seemed trapped by its own formulas, opening the door to a more dramatic approach that ultimately culminated in the character’s definitive farewell in No Time to Die.

Now Villeneuve must decide which James Bond he wants to introduce. A younger man at the beginning of his career? A sophisticated and emotionally distant spy? A troubled figure closer to Craig’s interpretation? Or someone capable of recovering the irony and humor that defined the character for decades? Depending on the answer, Elordi and Lowden could represent entirely different directions.

The curious thing is that James Bond fans rarely welcome change. Daniel Craig faced harsh criticism when his casting was announced in 2005. Some complained about his blond hair, his appearance, and even his supposed lack of elegance. Today, his performance is considered one of the most important in the franchise’s history. Pierce Brosnan also had to endure comparisons, Timothy Dalton was considered too serious, and virtually every actor who has taken on the role has had to win over an audience convinced that nobody could possibly replace its favorite Bond.

Perhaps that is Amazon’s real challenge. It isn’t enough to choose an actor capable of playing James Bond. The studio needs someone who can survive the expectations of millions of viewers, the inevitable comparisons, and the pressure of representing a franchise that has endured for more than six decades without losing its cultural relevance.

Personally, I see one important advantage in Lowden: he still has room to become Bond. Elordi, on the other hand, already carries a very clearly defined screen persona, although he certainly has enough talent to surprise us. And we shouldn’t dismiss the possibility that the mysterious third contender might ultimately be the one who catches everyone off guard.

If the announcement really does come in the next few days, one thing seems practically guaranteed: regardless of who is chosen, the reaction will be immediate, passionate, and probably divided. Before seeing a single scene, millions of people will already have decided whether the new James Bond is perfect or a disaster.

And perhaps that is 007’s most enduring tradition: nobody ever seems good enough to play James Bond until he finally manages to convince us otherwise.