The Latest Bond Contender is a Slow Horse

Yup, it’s that time of the month again: baseless speculation about who will be the next James Bond! I swear I write a post like this at least ten times a year and it’s never the same white dude twice. Hey, at least someone is helping to keep us hot takes merchants in work. And a hot new diva has entered MI5, although he’s already familiar with the layout thanks to his involvement in another beloved spy series.

On the podcast The Rest is Entertainment, co-host Richard Osman, who you may know from Pointless or The Thursday Murder Club, said he’d heard through the industry grapevine of the latest frontrunner for the gig.

“Someone told me for definite who the new Bond is the other day, but I mean that’s happened before,” said Osman. “The name I’ve heard is Jack Lowden. “It is definitively not a “he’s definitely got it” thing. He is definitely being strongly considered. I think he’d be amazing. Lowden would be an incredible Bond. He’s got real Daniel Craig energy.”

You probably know Jack Lowden best for his role as River Cartwright in the Apple TV series Slow Horses. He was also in Dunkirk, Wolf Hall, and the recent masterpiece that was Ella McCay. He’s got extensive stage experience and is an Olivier Award winner. In my neck of the woods, he’s a Scottish BAFTA winner for the beautiful historical drama Benediction. Later this year, you’ll see him as Mr. Darcy in the latest adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Oh, and he’s also Mr. Saoirse Ronan.

He certainly meets all of the criteria I expect the Amazon-MGM bosses are looking for with their next 007: he’s the right age, has the look, is talented and reliable but not so famous that his prior work will overshadow this role, and he’s got that balance of charm and darkness the part calls for. Lowden definitely seems primed for a big breakout leading role. But does he want it? That’s a big commitment to make, after all. The money could be great but being Bond under the rule of Amazon could be kind of thankless.

Still, he does feel like the platonic ideal of the next James Bond. I wouldn’t be mad at this pick. A Scottish Bond? We deserve this.