There has been so much speculation about who could be the next James Bond, and one of Essex’s own might be in contention. When Daniel Craig stepped down as 007 after No Time To Die in 2021, Jack Lowden wasn’t a household name. Now, though, the Slow Horses star is seen as a dark horse to take over as the legendary spy.
Lowden fits the bill for Bond in various ways. He’s good looking, fit, and has already played an MI5 agent in Slow Horses. The fact that he isn’t world famous could work to his advantage as well, as it means he can be easily moulded into a new version of the character.
Lowden Considered a Dark Horse for the Role
Pretty much every major actor currently working has been linked with the Bond role over the last few years, and the odds on who will be chosen are constantly shifting. Lowden is currently considered a dark horse for the role. He’s not among the favourites, but he has been given a fighting chance to snag it.
As it stands at the time of writing, SAS: Rogue Heroes star Jack O’Connell is the frontrunner for the role. According to the latest reports, the new Bond picture will be written by Steven Knight, who has worked closely with the British actor on the World War II series. O’Connell’s career has gone from strength to strength in recent years, and he has the charm needed to pull off Bond.
Another actor from Rogue Heroes could also be a contender for 007, with Connor Swindells showing he can portray someone who’s a suave and slick operator. Both of these stars are slightly better-known than Lowden, so Eon Productions may view them as having a better chance of selling tickets to the next Bond film.
Slow Horses Star Could be a Great Action-Focused Choice
One of the main things that Lowden has working in his favour is the fact that he’s shown he’s comfortable with starring in the kind of action scenes that are common in Bond pictures. He is athletic and has filmed plenty of chases during his time in Slow Horses.
The casting isn’t the only thing that’s essential for Eon Productions to get right with the new picture, though. There are many lessons to be learned from Casino Royale, which was an excellent debut for Craig. That film went back to basics and included key Bond tropes such as flashy cars and casino scenes.
Its focus on a poker storyline benefited from the poker boom at the time, and Knight may look to the UK casino market for inspiration about what Bond could play next. Roulette is one of the most popular games online thanks to live streaming, so it would be good to see Bond playing the red and black wheel in his next outing.
It’s impossible to say who the next Bond will be, but it wouldn’t be out of the question for the creators to go for a choice that nobody has been expecting. Lowden may be quietly hoping he’ll get the call, and he could be an excellent choice.
