Fans 'Caught Off Guard' As New Actor Emerges As Rumoured Top Pick To Play James Bond

Meanwhile, the casting process for the next actor to lead the James Bond franchise seems to be nearing an end.

Key points

• After impressing filmmaker Denis Villeneuve and casting director Nina Gold, according to the outlet's "insiders" Jack Barton is bosses' new top pick for the job.
• Just watched a few snippets of Jack Barton as John Tonkin in SAS: Rogue Heroes.
• HuffPost UK has contacted reps for Jack Barton and Amazon MGM Studios for comment.
• Interestingly, the sixth name on their list was Oscar nominee Paul Mescal, marking the first time he's been linked with James Bond in the press in some time.
• On Wednesday, Page Six documented that the next stage of the process was screen tests, with six actors left in consideration.

Back in May, five years after Daniel Craig's last outing as the iconic British spy in No Time To Die, 007 bosses confirmed that they'd officially begun "the search for the next James Bond".

"While we don't plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we're excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right, " a spokesperson remarked, with Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Callum Turner and Jacob Elordi all thought to be the hot favourites for the role at that time.

Jack is somewhat less well-known than some of the other actors previously tipped for the 007 gig, but he did play John Tonkin in SAS: Rogue Heroes and Kit Connor's on-screen brother in Netflix's Heartstopper.

Page Six additionally maintained that five more stars will be doing screen tests imminently, alleging that the previously-rumoured Jack Lowden, Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi and Harris Dickinson are all still in the frame.

Naturally, these rumours have already sparked a lot of conversation on social media.

Wait jack fucking barton.I didn't know this was an option. Pic.twitter.com/sFWav3BHlI. Mak (@cuckstopper) August 26, 2026. Backing Jack Barton since I have no idea who he is 🙌. ً (@marenyearly) August 26, 2026. It should be the one I've never heard of until now. Zoë rose bryant (@zoerosebryant) August 26, 2026. The evil brother from Heartstopper! Gomezgalore (@gomezzgalore) August 26, 2026.

Of course it has to be the less known of them all, makes no sense to have a household name obtain into the suit. Maybe: vics (@hugofloores) August 26, 2026.

Lowden is my personal pick, but given that Barton is the true unknown, I think it's him unless another unknown somehow emergeshttps: //t.co/NIuUbrugun. Comrade Rodrigo (@yronlyhopes) August 26, 2026.

Offer it to an unknown actor and let's shake up some wigs 🙏🏾. Shank (@Shankballs) August 26, 2026. 007: The University Years. Doug Pembry (@Doug_Pembry) August 27, 2026.

Just watched a few snippets of Jack Barton as John Tonkin in SAS: Rogue Heroes. I'm implore you to do the same as he does have a certain gravitas regarding him which I think would produce him a great James Bond. I was initially skeptical regarding his look, but my mind has changed. Pic.twitter.com/G1LsQbwrjN. Joe G (@Movie_madness80) August 26, 2026.

Offer em each a movie to see how they do and then pick after that. Handsome B. Charming (@CTachio83984) August 26, 2026.

Earlier this year, producer Amy Pascal remarked the studio was looking for "something really different that is. Stirring and exciting and different" in their next James Bond.

Little else is known regarding the next instalment in the spy franchise, other than that it will be written by Peaky Blinders and House Of Guinness creator Steven Knight.

For now, fans ' Caught Off Guard' As New Actor Emerges As Rumoured Top Pick remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.