India, Oct. 24 -- The race to become the next James Bond has entered a crucial stage, with screen tests for the coveted role expected to begin as early as Friday. Among the actors in contention are Game of Thrones star Richard Madden, Slow Horses actor Jack Lowden, Masters of the Air star Callum Turner and The Crown actor Josh O'Connor. Director Denis Villeneuve, who is helming the upcoming Bond film, is expected to oversee the screen tests. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the auditions will assess the actors' stunt abilities, screen presence and dialogue delivery. While at least three actors are in the running, the shortlist could include as many as five candidates. Meanwhile, Euphoria star Jacob Elordi is not among those testing for the role. The auditions were initially scheduled for earlier this month but were pushed to late October owing to scheduling conflicts involving the shortlisted actors. The tests are expected to conclude next week, though the makers have yet to announce when the final casting decision will be made. The search for the successor of actor Daniel Craig, who appeared as 007 in Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015) and No Time To Die (2021), began in spring, when the studio announced that casting director Nina Gold had joined the project. After months of meetings, the process has now moved to screen tests, bringing the makers closer to choosing the actor who will take on one of cinema's most iconic roles. htc...