However, a key figure closely associated with the 007 franchise doesn’t exactly seem to have been won over by the latter’s credentials.
Charlie Higson – who took over at the helm of the James Bond book series from the late Ian Fleming in the 2020s – told The Times he’s “not sure” he can imagine the Slow Horses actor taking over from Daniel Craig.
“I like him, but it’s like when Tom Hiddleston was in the running – not a convincing hand-to-hand fighter,” the writer claimed.
“With Daniel Craig you can believe him kicking the shit out of someone. And you’ve got to believe that with Bond.”
As well as writing the 2023 book On His Majesty’s Secret Service, Charlie Higson has been closely associated with the James Bond franchise for some time, having penned a series of books dubbed Young Bond, about the iconic secret agent’s student days.
Rumours about who could pick up the mantle as 007 have been circulating for the better part of a decade now, with film studio Amazon MGM confirming earlier this year that the casting process was officially underway.
Producer Amy Pascal shared more recently that the team was looking for “something really different” when it comes to the next James Bond, and was keeping an eye out for someone “stirring and exciting and different”.
Besides Lowden and Barton (best known for his work in Heartstopper and SAS Rogue Heroes) other names still thought to be in the frame for the role of James Bond include Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Harris Dickinson and Paul Mescal.
In his Times interview, Higson ruled out Jacob Elordi for being “too tall” but said that Callum Turner’s “unconventional looks” could work in his favour. Unfortunately, he was not asked about Jack Barton, so didn’t offer his take on the other rumoured frontrunner.
