It should be recalled that Steven Knight is currently writing the screenplay for the next film for Amazon and has been involved in developing the project for quite some time already. During this BBC Radio 4 interview, host Anna Foster mentioned Gary Oldman’s recent comments, according to which the new Bond actor had already been chosen, before asking Knight whether the team had made the right choice.
James Bond screenwriter, slip of the tongue or not?
“I can’t talk about that subject. Even though I’d love to be able to,” the screenwriter replied. Foster then asked him whether he had written the screenplay with the chosen actor in mind or whether he had instead relied on the character as he appears in Ian Fleming’s novels. “A bit of both. It makes things a little easier when you know who that person is, but you also have to write the character, not the actor,” Knight explained.
The journalist then asked him whether he had known the identity of the actor from the very beginning, even before he started writing, or whether it had been revealed to him along the way. Laughing, Knight simply replied: “I refer you to my previous answer”.
Jack Lowden bookmakers’ favorite
A dodge that ultimately says quite a lot. If Knight has been writing for several months with a specific actor in mind, that means the production probably has known for quite some time the identity of its next 007, while letting rumors, speculation, and lists of contenders flourish. So, who?
To date, Jack Lowden, Gary Oldman’s partner in Slow Horses, is the clear favorite with the bookmakers. His name had long been circulating among the potential candidates, but it has only really moved to the top of the predictions in recent days.
Denis Villeneuve will direct the film from Steven Knight’s screenplay, while the new James Bond actor is expected to be officially announced before the end of the year.
That said, bookmakers have often been completely wrong when it comes to guessing the identity of the next Bond. So Jack Lowden or not? Place your bets. The roulette wheel should stop spinning before the end of the year.