Jonathan Bailey as James Bond is the casting many fans want, and they are making noise about it after the Bridgerton star was left off the reported shortlist for the role. With Denis Villeneuve directing the next 007 film for Amazon MGM Studios, the search for a new Bond has become one of the biggest stories in Hollywood, and plenty of viewers think the studio is overlooking the obvious choice.
Who Made the Reported James Bond Shortlist
In late October, Deadline reported that final screen tests were lined up for three actors: Jack Lowden of Slow Horses, Josh O’Connor of The Crown and Challengers, and Callum Turner of Fantastic Beasts and Masters of the Air. Turner has since become the bookmakers’ favourite. Later reports claimed Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult had also quietly screen-tested. Jonathan Bailey, who some reports had described as a frontrunner only weeks earlier, was nowhere to be seen.
Why Fans Want Jonathan Bailey as James Bond
Supporters point out that Bailey ticks almost every box. He is British, in his late 30s, and has proven he can carry very different kinds of projects. He became a global name as Anthony Bridgerton, sang and danced as Fiyero in Wicked and Wicked: For Good, led the action blockbuster Jurassic World Rebirth, and earned acclaim for the drama Fellow Travelers. He was also named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2025.
Some fans have gone further, questioning whether Bailey’s status as an openly gay actor played a part in his absence from the list. Others argue the producers simply want a lesser-known face, as the franchise has often done in the past, while some are backing established stars like Pattinson instead.
What Jonathan Bailey Has Said About Bond
Bailey has never campaigned for the part, but he has not dismissed it either. When asked about the rumours on BBC Radio 2, he called it “an amazingly flattering ask” and kept his answer playful. Amazon MGM has not confirmed any casting, so for now the shortlist remains a report rather than a final decision.
Until the studio announces its new 007, the fan campaign for Jonathan Bailey as James Bond is unlikely to quiet down. Whoever gets the licence to kill will be stepping into the role after Daniel Craig, and they will have one of the biggest legacies in film to live up to.
Learn more about Jonathan Bailey’s career on Wikipedia.
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