The biggest James Bond clue has been in our faces the whole time

An eagle-eyed fan believes Jack Lowden’s connection to Omega could be the biggest clue yet about the next 007 (Picture: David Fisher/Shutterstock) The identity of the next James Bond has become one of Hollywood’s most closely guarded secrets, but an eagle-eyed fan believes the answer has been staring us in the face all along.

And rather than another suspiciously timed interview, leaked audition, or anonymous industry insider, the latest theory revolves around something considerably more fitting for 007: a very expensive watch.

TikTok creator Ian Thinks (@ianthinks) has sent Bond enthusiasts into a frenzy after claiming he has worked out who will replace Daniel Craig by examining the luxury brand partnerships of the actors reportedly competing for the role.

His conclusion? Jack Lowden, the Scottish star of Slow Horses, whose relationship with Swiss watchmaker Omega could, according to the theory, be hiding the biggest casting announcement in cinema.

‘I know who the next James Bond is. I don’t mean I’m speculating. I’m not speculating, and I’m telling you, I know,’ Ian declared confidently in his video.

And before you dismiss him as another fan driven to madness by five years of increasingly ridiculous Bond rumours, he does have an intriguing argument.

Omega has been the official watch of James Bond since Pierce Brosnan first slipped a Seamaster onto his wrist in 1995’s GoldenEye, with the luxury brand continuing its association throughout Craig’s five-film tenure.

The partnership has become so synonymous with the franchise that Ian believes whoever inherits the famous tuxedo must also be available to represent Omega.

Which, as it turns out, presents something of a problem for several of the actors currently tipped for the role.

Robert Pattinson, who recently emerged as a surprise contender, became a global ambassador for rival Swiss watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre in September.

Nicholas Hoult, another actor reportedly brought into the increasingly crowded casting race, has also enjoyed a longstanding relationship with the same company.

Meanwhile, Josh O’Connor, whose own Bond prospects have reportedly collapsed after he turned down the role, has represented Italian luxury brand Bulgari as a watch ambassador since 2021.

That leaves Callum Turner, who has been widely considered one of the strongest candidates to become the new 007.

Unfortunately for Turner, Ian believes his recently announced partnership with Johnnie Walker Blue Label also counts against him.

‘Not shaken, not stirred,’ the TikToker joked, referencing Bond’s famously particular martini order.

Of course, there is one rather significant hole in that part of the theory: Johnnie Walker makes whisky, not watches, meaning there is no obvious reason Turner couldn’t represent both brands.

Nevertheless, Ian quickly moved on to his chosen candidate, producing photographs of Lowden wearing an Omega watch at the Golden Globes.

‘We’ll skip the rest of the BS and jump straight to who Omega’s new James Bond is,’ he announced.

‘The name’s Jack Lowden. A Scottish actor who pulls off a suit, pulls off the Aqua Terra, has the perfect wrist. Is absolutely going to steal your girl and drive off in an Aston Martin.’

According to Ian, the apparent smoking gun is that Lowden was featured in Omega’s promotional material alongside other high-profile ambassadors.

‘If they announced his partnership right now, everybody would know,’ he claimed, suggesting the brand was quietly preparing the public for its next leading man.

However, there is a small detail worth correcting: Lowden actually wore an Omega De Ville Trésor at the January 2025 Golden Globes, rather than the Aqua Terra identified in the video.

He was included in the watchmaker’s coverage of the ceremony alongside established ambassadors including Craig and Nicole Kidman, although that alone does not establish that Lowden has signed an official ambassador agreement.

Still, it is a deliciously Bond-like theory, particularly given how integral the Swiss watchmaker has become to the franchise.

‘This is the most compelling evidence I’ve seen so far,’ one commented.

‘OMG I think you might be right!!’ another exclaimed.

A third declared: ‘Love Jack Lowden the perfect Bond if he has been cast.’

Others were considerably less persuaded, with one questioning whether the producers would really make their choice quite so obvious.

‘I feel like any good agent would make sure a brand partnership contract didn’t prevent their client from becoming literal Bond….’ another reasoned.

There is also the inconvenient matter of Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who has been linked with 007 for years and was himself named an official Omega ambassador in 2025.

In other words, a connection with the watchmaker is hardly a guarantee of being handed a licence to kill.

But Lowden certainly has plenty working in his favour beyond his choice of wristwear.

The 36-year-old has attracted considerable support for the role, including from his Slow Horses co-star Gary Oldman, while his performances in projects including Dunkirk have demonstrated that he is more than capable of handling a major Hollywood production.

He has also addressed the Bond speculation himself, describing the attention as flattering without giving anything away.

Meanwhile, the seemingly endless search for Craig’s successor has become so feverish that even incoming director Denis Villeneuve has started making jokes about it.

The filmmaker recently pretended he was about to reveal the next Bond during an appearance at the LACMA Art and Film Gala, before abruptly stopping himself and joking that producer Amy Pascal was about to have a heart attack.

The next instalment, which will be written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, marks the first Bond film made under Amazon MGM Studios’ full creative control.

And although auditions reportedly began entering their final stages last month, no casting decision has been publicly confirmed.

For now, then, Lowden’s Omega connection remains an entertaining piece of circumstantial evidence rather than proof of anything.

But after five years of waiting, perhaps we should have known the biggest clue to James Bond’s future might come down to a question of timing.

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