AI-written summary of reporting by Deadline. No human editor reviewed this. AI can misread or omit facts — read the original, linked below.
ABSTRACT

Gary Oldman said Friday, in an interview at Deadline's Toronto Film Festival studio, that his recent comments about Slow Horses co-star Jack Lowden and the James Bond role had been taken out of context and shaped into misleading headlines by media outlets.

Deadline

Gary Oldman says James Bond remarks about Jack Lowden were misconstrued

Gary Oldman says James Bond remarks about Jack Lowden were misconstrued
Sep 11, 2026, 4:55 PM

Gary Oldman said Friday, in an interview at Deadline's Toronto Film Festival studio, that his recent comments about Slow Horses co-star Jack Lowden and the James Bond role had been taken out of context and shaped into misleading headlines by media outlets.

Context

Oldman stated that a journalist from the Canadian outlet Global asked him about Lowden's reported connection to the Bond role — a question he said he did not raise himself. He said he told the journalist: 'Rumor has it that they picked someone, but they've not announced it yet. And fingers crossed for Jack.' He said coverage made it appear he had direct knowledge from director Denis Villeneuve, adding that reporters 'took it to the very edge of misquoting me, moved things around like they do and it became a headline.'

Oldman said he relayed his account to Lowden by phone. He quoted Lowden's response as: 'Oh, they do that kind of thing, the f–kers.'

Oldman was in Toronto as part of TIFF's Primetime lineup, which spotlights television, accompanied by Slow Horses cast members Saskia Reeves, Christopher Chung, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, and Ruth Bradley, and director Adam Randall. Lowden was not present. Asked about Lowden's Bond prospects, Oldman said 'We're rooting for him, aren't we?' and received what Deadline described as vigorous nods from the assembled cast.

Slow Horses Season 6 is set to debut on Apple TV on September 16, based on Mick Herron's novels Joe Country and Slough House — the sixth and seventh books in his Slough House series. Production on Season 7 is already under way. The rumored field of candidates for the Bond role also includes Callum Turner, Dev Patel, Paul Mescal, Jacob Elordi, Harris Dickinson, and Jack Barton, according to the source. No casting announcement has been made.

All Perspectives
Gary Oldman: Oldman stated he did not bring up or volunteer the Bond-Lowden connection; the question came from a Canadian journalist. He said his words were moved around and taken 'to the very edge of misquoting,' creating the false impression he had a direct line to Villeneuve supplying him with casting information. He and the Slow Horses team are, he said, 'rooting for' Lowden.
Jack Lowden (as quoted by Oldman): Lowden, according to Oldman's account of their phone call, responded to the media coverage by saying: 'Oh, they do that kind of thing, the f–kers.'
Position not represented in the source reporting: Global journalist who conducted the original interview; Denis Villeneuve.
Gaps & Unknowns
  • The source does not include a response from the Global journalist or outlet named by Oldman.
  • The source does not include a response from Denis Villeneuve or his representatives.
  • The source does not reproduce the original interview transcript or audio to allow independent comparison with Oldman's account of what he said.
  • The source does not state when the original Global interview was conducted or published.
  • The source does not confirm who, if anyone, has been cast as the new James Bond or when an announcement is expected.
  • The source does not state what prior speculation or reporting led to Lowden being identified as a contender before Oldman's remarks.
Sources & Further Reading
  1. Deadline — original

Read the original at Deadline

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