'James Bond' writer breaks silence on 007 casting after Gary Oldman’s claim

James Bond writer Steve Knight has finally addressed Gary Oldman’s claim about the next lead.

For those unaware, Oldman revealed that he wants his Slow Horse co-star Jack Lowden to be the upcoming James Bond, claiming that the creator has made a selection for the iconic role in an interview with Canada’s Global. He said, “They have made their choice, but they have not announced it yet. So, my fingers are crossed for Jack.”

On Tuesday morning, September 8, Knight appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Today show, where he was inquired about casting of 007 in the wake of Oldman’s remarks.

The 67-year-old English filmmaker said, “I cannot speak about this subject. Much as I would dearly love to.”

He went on to state that he felt like he was “doing my duty for King and country” by taking on Ian Fleming’s spy franchise for Amazon MGM Studios.

Anna Foster, BBC presenter, threw another question at Knight, asking, “Presumably you know who it is when you’re writing it. Does that make a difference?”

“It does make life a little bit easier if you know who that person is, but also you have to write the character, not the actor,” the Redemption director replied.

Foster tried another time to find out about the actor who is playing 007, as she asked, “So they told you at the beginning before you started writing, or do they tell you halfway through?”

“I refer you to my previous answer. The thing with Bond is it’s its own universe, and it’s its own franchise. So, there are certain rules. I mean, obviously you have to move it along, but I love where it sits. I love that it’s British. I love that it’s not DC or Marvel … So, I feel a responsibility to the text,” Steve Knight explained.