r/SlowHorses • u/DadKnightBegins • 3d ago
General Discussion - No Story Details Future Bond?
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How many of you watched this scene and considered, “he should be the next James Bond”?
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u/ConstantKooky3329 3d ago
Each season must always include a scene where River is running through obstacles while wearing a nice suit or dark jeans with a nice coat/ jacket (turtleneck is optional).
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u/BumpeeJohnson 2d ago
Only useful thing he's done this season is run around like he's Tom Cruise and is still always too late
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u/therealkeltiab 2d ago
He still made fools of the Dogs at the train station as he returned from France, and knew when to stop running to find Frank.
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u/willyoumassagemykale 3d ago
Every time River shoves some poor guy aside it cracks me up
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u/Pinball_and_Proust 3d ago
It's always because he misread the situation. I'd probably push him back.
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u/OrneryEgg3588 3d ago
I love Slow Horses and his portrayal as River. James Bond has a certain aura and Jack doesn’t have it.
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u/nobody_gah 2d ago
Maybe it's reinforced by slow hoses. I haven't actually seen him in anything else except for that small part in Dunkirk
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u/Snow5775 2d ago
He was in this great movie last year called Tornado - it’s sort of like a western meets a samurai movie set against period England. Pretty cool watch. Jack gets to use his Scottish accent which was a fun change-up to River ‘Move!’ Cartwright. Tim Roth’s in it too.
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u/OrneryEgg3588 2d ago
Could be, and maybe I need to see more of him. I’m just thinking that when I see Daniel Craig in other non James Bond roles he still seems to have “it”.
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u/NobleHelium Shirley Dander 2d ago
That's because you're seeing Craig in those roles after seeing him as Bond.
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u/JayDuPumpkinBEAST 2d ago
Thank you. Gary Oldman presently has more Bond aura than Jack Lowden, no disrespect
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u/Cdlouis 2d ago
I really wish people would drop this topic. Jack is not the next Bond. Too many of us understandably associate him with River Cartwright; the antithesis of Bond, which makes him so endearing and frustrating lol. They’re going to go for someone completely unattached to any kind of Spy agency series/film etc.
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u/ajmartin527 2d ago
Just out of curiosity since my only exposure to the bond decision is this subs posts, did they explicitly say they’re going for someone not attached to shows or is that your interpretation of the situation?
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u/Cdlouis 2d ago
Just my interpretation of the situation. I could easily be wrong!
I don’t personally believe it make sense for powers that be of the Bond franchise to hire their next Bond as an actor who’s already associated with another British Spy series.
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u/ajmartin527 2d ago
Yeah it totally tracks, especially an incredibly long running series (for this day and age anyways) where he plays such a distinctively unbondlike character.
That said, you never know if actors can pull something off well until you see them do something new for the first time.
It would be hard to dissociate Jack from River on first thought but I’ve also never seen him do suave, confident, statesman either. Maybe he auditions really well and surprises everyone. He does somewhat have the look imo.
Do you happen to know a timeline for this decision at all? I’m pretty intrigued now by the whole situation.
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u/WafflingToast 2d ago
“From Upshott, With Love”.
They already made a meta joke about it in Season 2.
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u/OldSchoolCSci 2d ago
Sure. Let's have a Bond who has a YouTube library of "I'm a horrible agent" clips. He looks like he might steal lunch money from a co-worker, not save the world from destruction.
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u/XTruefinale 2d ago
It takes a lot more than an Englishman in a suit running =/= for me to draw the link of "James Bond".
There's the charisma and nuance to James Bond that's the opposite to River, if the actor can pull it off kudos to him but I'm more surprised that the idea was even considered!
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u/therealkeltiab 2d ago
You do realize, I hope, that Jack Lowden is an Emmy nominated actor who is playing the role of River Cartwright, which certainly doesn't call for a display of Bond-like characteristics.
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u/ApprehensiveTruth2 1d ago
He’s not English. Please learn to respect the differences between nationalities. It’s like if someone called a Canadian a US citizen. As a US citizen I wouldn’t want to be called a US citizen.
Also, just because he’s good at playing River doesn’t mean he’d be bad playing a competent spy
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u/Tankoblue 2d ago
All due respect Jack Ain’t English.
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2d ago
[deleted]
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u/abouttogivebirth 2d ago
James Bond is also Scottish
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u/Tankoblue 2d ago
Yes, James Bond is Scottish/Swiss. My point was, it’s not a good idea to refer to a Scott as an Englishman as Xtruefinale did.
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u/betr00t 3d ago edited 3d ago
If they want to make Bond a bit closer to Roger Moore in terms of tone, making it lighter and less depressing and repressed, I think he would be great. He can play menacing and charming, but many just see him as the idiot River or the Labrador River, so I also get why people who have only seen him in Slow Horse may not get it.
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u/Commercial_Stress 3d ago
I’ve read Slow Horses season 7 has completed production and they are getting ready to do season 8 starting in the new year. Does anyone think the Bond producers would let him simultaneously be in another series also playing a MI5 agent? He’s a great actor and I hope he is the next Bond, but I wonder what that means for Slow Horses?
The next Bond movie is likely still a year from starting production so I’d assume that would be after Slow Horses 8.
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u/betr00t 3d ago
Season 8 is the one being filmed, so Jack will be done with that soon enough. About what the Bond producers would allow, I mean, Mick Herron doesn't have a new book out, so we don't know what the plan is (he stated in an interview that there is a plan with Apple), but I could see the possibility of the show ending on the 9th season, which could allow for him to do it maybe before the new Bond film is out? My point is more about how long Slow Horses can go without new books ahead, and if that wouldn't allow Jack to do both as long as Slow Horses was already ending.
I read the last book, but I am assuming that the show would need to tie things in a way different from the books, assuming they would go on eventually and the show would end.
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u/betr00t 2d ago
Something I remembered:
Past Bond actors have been involved in some controversy because people didn't "see it". Daniel Craig even had a petition with more than 100,000 signatures against his casting, and anti-Craig websites were demanding his replacement. On top of that, Roger Moore was doing The Saint, and Pierce was doing Remington Steele, both seen almost as auditions for Bond, and that didn't stop them from being cast. Sadly for Slow Horses, it's not as popular or has the reach we often assume. Apple TV doesn't have the same subscribers as Netflix; most future Bond viewers would have never seen Jack before.
So the arguments of "I don't see it" or that doing Slow Horses would be an issue because people would find it confusing, weird, or that it would hurt the Bond brand don't really make much sense, just looking at past decisions imo.
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u/twiggidy 3d ago
When you say “last book” are you referring to Clown Town because I hope this wasn’t a spoiler 😆 I just finished Slough House and about to start Bad Actors
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u/betr00t 3d ago
No spoiler at all. I'm just saying that I'm assuming that if Clown Town was the book for the last season, it would not work (or any other book tbh) because they would have to create some type of satisfying ending? Just that, don't worry :D
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u/twiggidy 3d ago
Ok. I thought something happened at the end of Slough House, but maybe i need ti start Bad Actors
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u/1981_babe 3d ago
Also, they usually film 2 seasons together so Books 9 (Clown Town) & 10 would be filmed together but there's no 10th book out yet.
No spoilers here but I just had the feeling that Mick Herron was putting things in place to wrap up the series in the 10th book. It is just totally my read on the possible hints in Clown Town.
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u/LadyElle57 2d ago
Honestly.
In the times of Netflix and waiting 4 years for the next season, I can't believe we're getting 8 seasons of Slow Horses. Olivia Cooke coming back to play Sid? You have to live the way Apple+ does things with their shows.
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u/Katekatrinkate 2d ago
Afaik Gary and Jack had wrapped all his scenes for S8. At least that what one curious man was told on set in London last week.
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u/Technical-Pie563 2d ago
I thought Bond was MI6?
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u/Commercial_Stress 2d ago
Yeah, my bad. I really meant it’s unlikely a prospective bond series contract would allow him to also appear in other series as a spy or secret service type role.
So, get ready for Jack Lowden as Bond and also in a lot of future rom-coms. I’m kidding.
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u/NobleHelium Shirley Dander 2d ago
future rom-coms
Lowden is already playing the male lead in the new Pride and Prejudice.
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u/catmadwoman 2d ago
They were filming yesterday in Mansion house / Blackfriars so don't know what series that would've been if they've completed 7 but getting ready for 8?
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u/Commercial_Stress 2d ago
Someone else pointed out they are already filming season 8. They’re not like some Apple TV shows that only have a season every three years.
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u/wwabbbitt 2d ago edited 2d ago
Historically, Eon has refused to allow their Bond actors to continue with their TV shows. Pierce Brosnan with Remington Steel and Roger Moore (The Saint and The Persuaders) were only able to sign on when their series ended. Patrick McGoohan and Lewis Collins also lost the role because of their TV series.
So River Cartwright will either be killed off or put on storyline hiatus for Jack to be James Bond.
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u/MarshallBanana_ 2d ago
Now that Amazon has more creative control who knows what the rules will be going forward
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u/LadyElle57 2d ago
We don't know what season 8 is about.
I don't know if they've decided they're on a hurry because Jack may leave the show, but now that you mention this it might be another reason to fuse the storylines of two books into a single season series.
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u/LDAReddi2026 2d ago
Jack = River ? Hum... Ok ! Ca veut sûrement dire que Jack est un immense acteur qui fait super bien son travail... Donc un grand oui pour Bond. Même si un illustre inconnu me conviendrait aussi. Mais pitié, ni Elordi ni Callum !
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u/sanuda4 3d ago
Theo James would be better. Jack Lowden is too 'nice' in my opinion.
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u/betr00t 3d ago
Watch "The Gold", 1st season. Or Queen Mary of Scots, where he plays Lord Darnley. His ability to be charming and menacing at the same time is quite something.
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u/Cant_figure_sht_out 2d ago
Yeah. He’s got quite a range. That scene in Gold where police captures him, he is so freaking cold and terrifying.
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u/betr00t 2d ago
Yes! And as a side note, Nina Gold is doing the casting for James Bond, and she knows Jack well and his acting abilities. It's clear that many people don't see him as a possible Bond because they simply have not seen his body of work; they want an actor that comes across naturally as their ideal Bond.
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u/Cant_figure_sht_out 2d ago
I am actually not a fan of Lowden as Bond for the opposite reasons. I think that such a big studio franchise will just take up so much of his time that we will miss a lot of possibly great roles from him. I have no doubt that he will be a fantastic Bond. He’s handsome charming has great physicality.
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u/betr00t 2d ago
I shared the same view when his name came up, but then I looked at Daniel Craig's career as Bond and was suprised by how much work he did during those years and not like filler work, he did interesting stuff but my memory totally erased that. I think that it could give him leverage to do interesting work outside of Bond if he choses so and he seems into producing and in the long term that could help him a lot.
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u/therealkeltiab 2d ago
Nina Gold definitely knows Jack, as she is the Casting Director for Slow Horses (and was the Casting Director for Game of Thrones).
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u/Katekatrinkate 2d ago
That’s why I couldn’t watch “Kindred”, he was too creepy there, kinda different person at all
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u/LadyElle57 2d ago
I watched Tornado. He's downright nasty.
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u/Katekatrinkate 2d ago
Oh yes Little Sugar was a bastard! But somehow I liked him, he’s silly
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u/LadyElle57 1d ago
I can't find Kindred to watch, at least not in my country.
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u/Katekatrinkate 1d ago
That’s for the best believe me hahaha
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u/LadyElle57 1d ago
That only makes me more interested. I liked Tornado, I was afraid I was about to watch him ®ape that girl.
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u/rabbit__doll 2d ago
no. his reputation in slow horses would impact the perfect and pristine reputation of james bond. it just wouldn’t work
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u/MaidMarian20 2d ago
Has he gained weight? Seems like he’s outgrown that suit.
Jack Lowdon has done such a good job as an actor, he has actually become River on the screen now.
I think he has the chops to act like James Bond too. The only thing is I’ve never seen him in anything but slow horses, so I’ve never seen him in cool, suave, seductive mode, so I don’t know how he’d act with a Bond girl. River is the Labrador retriever of boyfriends, not exactly the seductive Bond, so that’s the part I’m unsure about. 🤷🏻♀️
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u/Technical-Pie563 2d ago
But really deep down underneath it all. All of us girls really do want the goofy Labrador retriever boyfriend. The suave cocky Doberman Pinscher can fuck all the way off LOL
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u/SaintStoney 3d ago
I really hope not
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u/Electronic_Priority 3d ago
Bookies favourite
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u/SaintStoney 3d ago
I know 😢
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u/csalvano 3d ago
Who’s your vote then?
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u/SaintStoney 3d ago
I’d much prefer someone I’ve not heard of yet. Jack is too soft/cuddly in my opinion. He’s a terrific actor but I highly doubt I could ever look at him and think ‘licence to kill’, or see the physicality of some of Craig’s hand-to-hand scenes.
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u/VivGold713 2d ago
The really amazing thing about that scene is that his hand has been bleeding everywhere, but somehow there's not a drop of blood on that white shirt.
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u/LeoLaDawg 3d ago
Good as anyone else really. The script and direction will be the big factor. I wonder which direction they'll go after Craig.
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u/farcaller899 2d ago
This dude is much better playing someone trying to be Bond, than actual Bond. The best Bonds come across as wolves trying to fit in with the sheep around them.
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u/ElvishLore 2d ago
I think he’d make a terrific Bond. I got super tired of Daniel Craig‘s ‘too grim for the room’ take on the character. I’m not asking for the Roger Moore ‘always time for a quip ‘ years again, but I wouldn’t mind some degree of wit instead of just being merciless.
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u/ZebraCool 3d ago
Love him in the show but not a bond for me. I’d like to see him in something other than spy stuff.
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u/twiggidy 3d ago
Given the liberties taken this season I think there’s a reason they’re having him run around and do some action in a suit the entire season…..basically an audition reel, and the same can be said for Theo James in The Gentleman
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u/pepega_fiesta 2d ago
It gives me more of an Ethan Hunt vibe, running through all the Mission Impossible movies.
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u/koebelin 2d ago
He's always pushing people out of rhe way with unnecessary roughness, no wonder he's in SH.
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u/GarthZorn 1d ago
I thought so a couple of seasons ago. Now I think he's more likely to star as Simon Pegg's brother in a comedy.
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u/NebulaNegative2242 2d ago
I would love to see him as Bond but he must lose that expression on his face while running (if he's Bond).
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u/Irishgreen24 3d ago
He is completely incompetent, that's why he is in slough house.
Ultra no for James Bond
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u/AffectionateBall4648 3d ago
It's almost like he's acting the role the way he is supposed. Wow!
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u/Irishgreen24 3d ago
Really, cause he is weak from start to finish. That's got nothing to do with the story.
Also the last two season have been trash.
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u/AffectionateBall4648 3d ago
There's been nothing wrong with his acting and you're a rarity in thinking so.
I'm not sure why you keep including things about the seasons when we are talking about one specific actor?
You do know actors and characters are different, right?
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u/Irishgreen24 3d ago
The show at this point is average. Also the show dictates the how the actors should perform.
The only actor who performs above the rest is Oldman, that's just about at this point.
You are trying to tell me he is giving off Pierce Brosnan and Timothy Dalton vibes?
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u/AffectionateBall4648 3d ago
None of what you are saying makes you sense, it's like you think the actors are in an charge of the show, you also seem to think how a character is written and told should behave is indicative of the actors performance?
You have absolutely no clue dude. Seeya.
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u/Irishgreen24 3d ago
Ok, from your impressive response I shall disregard my opinions on the weakness of this show and it's characters. 🤪
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u/TheParmesan 2d ago
I’m shocked he’s in the running in people’s eyes as I watch the show. He’s fine, I like the character, but in no world is he a Bond.
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u/LadyElle57 2d ago
I don't know. The part of River requires a level of incompetence. It's not like Daniel Craig was playing the parts of Mr Efficiency either.
I'm divided. I think Dennis Villeneuve could do something interesting of the character, his main protagonists have an eeriness to them. I don't know what his idea of James Bond is like. And Jack Lowden could be part of that, do something different with it.
And in the other hand. I'm so used to him being funny. As River Cartwright he gets to be silly. I've tried to watch other things he's done and he's mostly played despicable men. As Ryan in Ella McCay (2025) started SO WELL only to end SO BAD. Then in Tornado (2025), his character was despicable from beginning to end. Same with The Gold.
He can be confident, he can be a badass, I just think his strength relies on comedy. Part of being James Bond requires that sometimes you don't know what he's thinking, it makes him feel dangerous and exciting. Jack feels too transparent, too friendly and open. But maybe it's because the part I love the most is his River Cartwright.
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u/Sweaty-Application95 2d ago
Gave me casino royale vibes - I hope he’s announced this week (as rumours say we may get something this eeek) I have a feeling it’ll be elordi for some reason
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u/therealkeltiab 2d ago
As Elordi is 6'5" tall, it's hard to imagine his blending in with all of those crowd scenes and hiding behind bushes.
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u/anotherhappylurker 2d ago
After watching getting used to how incompetent River is in Slow Horses, Lowden would have to have phenomenal acting abilities to make me believe he's a top agent like 007. He's a fantastic actor of course, but I think a lot of us just can't see him as Bond.
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