James Bond fans believe they may have identified the “mystery” actor who has joined Callum Turner and Jack Lowden in the auditions to become the next 007.

Following years of rumours and speculation, it emerged over the weekend that a final group of actors had been carrying out screen tests at Bray Studios.

Callum Turner began his audition for the iconic role on Friday, as Bond producers narrowed their search to the final three contenders. The following day, an unidentified actor was spotted leaving the studio.

The mystery surrounding the unnamed performer has prompted a wave of theories online, with Joe Alwyn repeatedly mentioned as a possible candidate.

Alwyn has appeared in Conversations with Friends, The Brutalist and Hamnet, leading fans to argue that his inclusion in the auditions would “make sense.”

One user wrote: “I can’t think of any other reason why they would hide the actor. Joe has a good reason to be hidden, though.”

They continued: “Nina Gold, one of the casting directors, knows Joe really well. She has known him since drama school and cast him in his first film, as well as now.”

“Hiding the actor because he is the most likely to be confirmed as Bond doesn’t make sense to me. Why would they announce the other three if they already knew who was most likely to get the role?”

The theory, posted on Reddit, quickly attracted a flood of responses from users who agreed that Alwyn could be the undisclosed contender.

One person replied: “I never considered him a contender before, but it makes sense.”

Another added: “He is supposed to be filming a rom-com in New York, but was in London this week for a friend’s wedding and potentially for this audition.”

The screen tests were reportedly scheduled to continue throughout the weekend, with between three and five actors understood to have reached the final stages of the selection process.

A source told Our News Outlet: “Daniel Craig’s replacement has been years in the making, and Callum was called today, Friday, to have his chance to impress the bosses. The next three days are going to be very interesting indeed.”

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Bray Studios, a historic production facility on the River Thames, was the filming location for The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Amazon MGM Studios, which now controls the Bond franchise, acquired the site in 2024.

Callum Turner’s meeting with Bond executives marks the latest development in the search for Daniel Craig’s successor, a process that has lasted almost a decade.

The Emma actor, who married pop star Dua Lipa earlier this year, has long been regarded as the leading contender for the role.

Scottish actor Jack and Josh O’Connor, both 36, are more recent names to be thrown into the ring and Australian actor Jacob Elordi, 29, also in the running will, no doubt anger die-hard fans who believe Bond should be played by a 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.’

Casting by December would allow Amazon MGM Studios to start filming the next movie in 2027.

Dune director Denis Villeneuve, who is taking on the project and bosses at Amazon, announced in May that the casting process was underway.

Amy said: ‘We are being really, really methodical. Having worked with Barbara Broccoli at the studio, I mean, Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow.

‘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.