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The Young Bond casting process completed
By: Anders Frejdh
Published:
2026-06-12
2026-06-12
Producer Robert Valentine and director Barnaby Edwards brought a carefully selected shortlist into the studio for in-person auditions – and, after an intense day at the mic, they’ve found both Young Bond and Wilder Lawless.
Exclusive video from the audition process for Young Bond
Robert Valentine commented: “From over five hundred applications, Barnaby Edwards and I whittled this number down to a shortlist of twelve potential Young Bonds, and four potential Wilder Lawlesses.”
Valentine continued: “In all honesty, it was a nerve-wracking day for us as well as for the actors, because finding the right Young Bond is the most important single decision of the entire project. All the actors who came in are extremely talented and highly experienced, but the challenge – as ever – was to find someone who is the perfect fit for the role, someone who really feels like Ian Fleming’s James Bond in his early years.”
“The good news is that we’ve found not only our Wilder Lawless, but our 007 to-be. And he’s an even better Young Bond than I dared hope we’d find.”
Barnaby Edwards added: “What an exhausting but thrilling day the in-person auditions were! The crème de la crème of voice actors came in for 20 minutes each to perform four scenes in front of the mic.”
Edwards continued: “Rob and the rest of the Big Finish team, together with two representatives of Ian Fleming Publications, were at the mixing desk while I was acting with and directing the candidates in the recording booth itself. We would compare notes after each audition to see who felt good to work with and who sounded best (not always the same thing!)
The reason I wanted to act alongside our potential Bonds and Wilders was to see how they could adapt their audition clips to a live interaction with a fellow performer. Some people are wonderful on their own and terrible with other actors. Not so our sweet sixteen candidates, though. They were all brilliant, presenting us with exactly what Rob and I had wanted: a difficult decision. After a hugely long day, we selected our favourite Bond and Wilder.”
Young Bond and Wilder Lawless images by Kev Walker from the graphic novel of SilverFin. All rights reserved.
What happens next?
With the chosen actors’ (secret) services secured, the next stage, when the time is right, is to introduce them to you.
From Sweden with Love has met the Young Bond actor and the actress that plays Wilder and we think both are great choices. The names are currently under embargo so we're not at liberty to reveal who it is. But watch this space, exciting things are happening in the world of Young Bond.
Young Bond, SilverFin, James Bond, 007, and related James Bond copyrights and/or trademarks authorized for use by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., exclusive licensee of London Operations LLC., used under licence by Ian Fleming Publications Limited. © 2026 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All rights reserved.
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