James Bond screen tests continue as mystery star is flanked by security leaving studios in Berkshire after odds-on favourite Callum Turner was the first to audition

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Rusk, C., & Busby, D. (2026, October 24). James Bond screen tests continue as mystery star is flanked by security leaving studios in Berkshire after odds-on favourite Callum Turner was the first to audition. Daily Mail. https://www.dailymail.com/tvshowbiz/article-16235635/James-Bond-screen-tests-continue-mystery-star-flanked-security-leaving-studios-Berkshire-odds-favourite-Callum-Turner-audition.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

Dated from the outlet's own feed. Check the original for its byline.

Daily Mail · collected 2026-10-25 · by Connie Rusk, Dolly Busby

Quick Summary

James Bond screen tests are underway at Bray Studios in Berkshire as production companies narrow down their choices for the next 007. Callum Turner, a frontrunner at age 36, was the first to audition on Friday. Security escorted a mysterious actor out of the studios in a Mercedes on Saturday, fueling speculation about who among the final contenders might be involved. The process, which includes up to five actors, aims to select Daniel Craig’s successor by year-end for potential filming starting in 2027.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-25, using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the same event (that is the story summary below).

AI analysis runs on qwen2.5:14b, locally

Story summary

As of October 24, 2026, screen tests are underway in London and Bray Studios in Berkshire to cast the next James Bond. Callum Turner, 36, kicked off the auditions on Friday, followed by other finalists including Jack Lowden and Josh O'Connor. Jacob Elordi is also rumored to be auditioning despite earlier reports suggesting he was out of contention. The final selection will replace Daniel Craig, who stepped down in 2021 after five films. Amazon MGM Studios now controls the franchise following its acquisition of the rights from Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson's family in 2025.

Written for “Next James Bond Screen Tests” on 2026-10-25, grounded in this article and the 5 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political question, so it has no leaning score. That is an answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political position.
No political leaning scored for article 105258 · logged 2026-10-25

Story

📰 Next James Bond Screen Tests
Entertainment · 6 article(s) covering the same event. Compare every outlet's account →

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 6% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
CBC News
⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 18% hedged 5 of 28 📰 publisher trust 74
“Both articles describe screen tests for the next James Bond happening in London/Berkshire, mentioning similar finalists and timing.”
NPR
⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 17% hedged 3 of 18 📰 publisher trust 60
“Both articles describe auditions for the next James Bond role taking place in London/Berkshire with Callum Turner and other actors mentioned.”
Daily Mail · 0.92 cosine similarity
⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 6% hedged 1 of 16 📰 publisher trust 64
“Article A describes Callum Turner's audition on Friday at Bray Studios, while Article B mentions another mystery actor arriving and being escorted by security on Saturday, indicating a different specific incident.”
Evening Standard
⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 20% hedged 1 of 5 📰 publisher trust 65
“While both articles discuss James Bond screen tests and mention similar actors, Article A focuses on the overall process and timeline, whereas Article B describes a more specific scene at Bray Studios with Callum Turner's audition and subsequent security presence.”
New York Post
⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 8% hedged 2 of 26 📰 publisher trust 66
“While both articles discuss ongoing James Bond auditions, they describe different stages or aspects of the process rather than the exact same incident.”
New York Post
⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 12% hedged 4 of 32 📰 publisher trust 66
“While both articles discuss ongoing efforts to find a new James Bond actor, they describe different aspects of the process and do not refer to the same specific moment or incident.”
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
17
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
6%
1 of 17 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
64/100
Daily Mail's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
6
Entertainment
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-10-25 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

Daily Mail · 7368 article(s) · 15 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 15 correction(s)

Who wrote this

Connie Rusk
7 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
🔮 Scottish actor Jack and Josh, both 36, are more recent names to be thrown into the ring and Australian actor Jacob, 29, also in the running will, no doubt anger die-hard fans who believe Bond should be played by a Brit.
🔮 In a spectacular own goal, the group chose to vote for Maya Jama, James Acaster and King Kenny as the three contestants they 'trusted most', giving them a special power.
🔮 A BBC Spokesperson said: 'As is standard practice on any entertainment show on the BBC and in line with our editorial guidelines, appropriate steps are taken to reduce the inclusion of any overt branding or slogans that may be present, regardless of the wording or statement in question.'
🔮 A BBC Spokesperson said: 'As is standard practice on any entertainment show on the BBC and in line with our editorial guidelines, appropriate steps are taken to reduce the inclusion of any overt branding or slogans that may be present, regardless of the wording or statement in question.'
🔮 The Celebrity Traitors is said to be in chaos after a star's pal has claimed to know who has made it to the final – after a staggering 9.6 million tuned into Friday night's episode BBC bosses are said to be panicked by the leak as they have gone to great lengths to ensure the outcome of the game is kept strictly under wraps (Traitors cast pictured on Friday's show) 'The BBC is hoping that anyone happening upon the info or hearing it from friends will help keep the secrets of the castle and stay quiet, the problem is a small group will be aware of The Celebrity Traitors’ secrets, including those who work on the show, the celebrities who ran the course and possibly their close family and friends.'
🔮 A week I would live over and over again, just to have those moments with them.
🔮 - See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Maya Jama has signed up for series three of The Gentlemen according to reports, after stars of the show dismissed rumours Meghan Markle would join the cast. The Love Island presenter, 32, made her scripted acting debut in the second series of Guy Ritchie's Netflix hit, in which she plays Aisha, the wife of a criminal associate of Theo James's character, Eddie Horniman.
Also by Connie Rusk
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 7 articles by Connie Rusk →
Dolly Busby
7 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
🔮 Scottish actor Jack and Josh, both 36, are more recent names to be thrown into the ring and Australian actor Jacob, 29, also in the running will, no doubt anger die-hard fans who believe Bond should be played by a Brit.
🔮 Eilish will play the Pyramid stage next June – as will Harry Styles and Sam Fender, both 32.
🔮 Scottish actor Lowden and O’Connor, both 36, are more recent names to be thrown into the ring and the Australian star Elordi, 29, in the running will no doubt anger die-hard fans who believe Bond should be played by a Brit.
🔮 Loud-mouthed, unapologetic and highly ambitious, Maura had no problem sabotaging fellow contestants by stealing their men or doing whatever she could to get to the final.
🔮 The thousands of music fans who have secured coveted tickets to Glastonbury Festival next year face an anxious wait to find out which stars will perform.
🔮 The 82-year-old, who has been with the corporation for six decades, predicted it will no longer exist unless funding is sorted out - and he branded viewers who do not pay the licence fee 'shoplifters'.
Also by Dolly Busby
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 7 articles by Dolly Busby →

Topics

007 Amazon MGM Studios Berkshire Crown Mercedes

Subjects

007 PERSON · 4× Daniel Craig PERSON · 4× Amazon MGM Studios ORG · 3× Bond PERSON · 3× James Bond PERSON · 3× Berkshire GPE · 2× Callum Turner PERSON · 2× Jack Lowden PERSON · 2× Jacob Elordi PERSON · 2× Josh O’Connor PERSON · 2×

Narrative

Wuthering Heights actor Jacob Elordi is also rumoured to be auditioning despite earlier reports he was out of the running Screen tests are said to be taking place throughout this weekend, with between three and five actors understood to have reached the last stages of the process Other stars who were previously linked with the role include The King's Man star Harris Dickinson, along with SAS: Rogue Heroes' Jack Barton Only six actors have ever played novelist Ian Fleming's British Secret Service agent 007 in the official film series Bray Studios is a historic production house on the River Thames, home to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, but was acquired by Amazon MGM Studios Daniel Craig officially stepped down as James Bond in October 2021 following the release of his fifth and final 007 film, No Time To Die And it's got to be something really different that is stirring and exciting and different.’ Other stars who were previously linked with the role include The King's Man star Harris Dickinson, along with SAS: Rogue Heroes' Jack Barton. Only six actors have ever played novelist Ian Fleming's British Secret Service agent 007 in the official film series – Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-25
🔮 Scottish actor Jack and Josh, both 36, are more recent names to be thrown into the ring and Australian actor Jacob, 29, also in the running will, no doubt anger die-hard fans who believe Bond should be played by a Brit.

Claims (17 extracted, 1 hedged)

A mystery star arrived at Bray Studios in Berkshire on Saturday as the James Bond screen tests continued. asserted
tests → arrive → Saturday
Callum Turner kicked off the tryouts for 007 on Friday as bosses whittle their choice down to the final three contenders. asserted
bosses → kick → contenders
The 36-year-old faces tough competition from Slow Horses star Jack Lowden, the Crown’s Josh O’Connor and rumoured Wuthering Heights actor Jacob Elordi, despite earlier reports he was out of the running. asserted
he → face → running
Security gathered to escort a Mercedes out of Bray Studios on Saturday afternoon, with speculation high it was an actor who had arrived to audition for the role. asserted
who → gather → role
Screen tests are said to be taking place throughout this weekend, with between three and five actors understood to have reached the last stages of the process. asserted
actors → say → process
A source told the Daily Mail: ‘Daniel Craig’s replacement has been years in the making and Callum was called today (Friday) to have his chance to impress the bosses. asserted
Callum → tell → bosses
The next three days are going to be very interesting indeed.' asserted
days → go → ?
A mystery star arrived at Bray Studios in Berkshire on Saturday as the James Bond screen tests continued Callum Turner kicked off the tryouts for 007 on Friday as bosses whittle their choice down to the final three contenders Bray Studios is a historic production house on the River Thames, home to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, but was acquired by Amazon MGM Studios, which now controls the Bond franchise, in 2024. asserted
which → arrive → 2024
Callum's meeting with chiefs spells the end of almost a decade-long search to replace Daniel Craig as the world’s most famous spy. asserted
meeting → spell → spy
The Emma actor, who married the popstar Dua Lipa earlier this year, has long been the front-runner for the role. asserted
who → marry → role
Scottish actor Jack and Josh, both 36, are more recent names to be thrown into the ring and Australian actor Jacob, 29, also in the running will, no doubt anger die-hard fans who believe Bond should be played by a Brit. asserted
Bond → throw → Brit
Confirming that the audition process was reaching an end, Bond producer Amy Pascal in August said: 'I would say the end of the year is a good bet.' asserted
end → confirm → year
Casting by December would allow Amazon MGM Studios to start filming the next movie in 2027. asserted
Studios → cast → 2027
Dune director Denis Villeneuve, who is taking on the project and bosses at Amazon, announced in May that the casting process was underway. Ms Pascal said: 'We are being really, really methodical. uncertain
We → take → May
Having worked with Barbara Broccoli at the studio, I mean, Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow. asserted
Craig → work → studio
Security gathered to escort a Mercedes out of Bray Studios on Saturday afternoon, with speculation high it was an actor who had arrived to audition for the role The 36-year-old faces tough competition from Slow Horses star Jack Lowden (left) and The Crown’s Josh O’Connor (right) asserted
old → gather → Lowden
Wuthering Heights actor Jacob Elordi is also rumoured to be auditioning despite earlier reports he was out of the running Screen tests are said to be taking place throughout this weekend, with between three and five actors understood to have reached the last stages of the process Other stars who were previously linked with the role include The King's Man star Harris Dickinson, along with SAS: Rogue Heroes' Jack Barton Only six actors have ever played novelist Ian Fleming's British Secret Service agent 007 in the official film series Bray Studios is a historic production house on the River Thames, home to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, but was acquired by Amazon MGM Studios Daniel Craig officially stepped down as James Bond in October 2021 following the release of his fifth and final 007 film, No Time To Die And it's got to be something really different that is stirring and exciting and different.’ Other stars who were previously linked with the role include The King's Man star Harris Dickinson, along with SAS: Rogue Heroes' Jack Barton. Only six actors have ever played novelist Ian Fleming's British Secret Service agent 007 in the official film series – Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig. asserted
actors → rumour → series
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