Callum Turner may not be the most famous figure in Hollywood at the moment, but that might change soon for one very good reason.
If you’re unfamiliar with Turner, you’ll be interested to find out that he’s a former model and a current actor who you may have seen in “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” (2018), “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” (2022) and “The Boys in the Boat” (2023).
That’s not to mention the fact that he’s engaged to Dua Lipa.
GettyBeyond that, Parade noted that it “[l]ooks like Callum Turner is next in line to carry 007’s shaken, not stirred, martini.” That’s right, the actor is reportedly the top choice to be the next James Bond.
Turner ‘Has the Looks and Sophistication for Bond’
GettyAlthough plenty of names have been floated around when it comes to who will be the next James Bond, sources told the Daily Mail that “Callum — the bookies’ odds-on favourite to take over from Daniel Craig — has been telling friends the role is his.”
One insider told the Mail, “He’s been blabbing all over town. Callum is the new Bond, it’s been confirmed. Everyone in his circle is talking about it. It’s the worst-kept secret going.”
On top of that, Turner and Lipa sparked buzz that he “could be taking on the mantle of Bond by going on holiday to Goldeneye in Jamaica, the former estate of Bond author Ian Fleming,” per the Mail.
“If it is Callum then he’d be a popular pick,” a source said. “He has the looks and sophistication for Bond and he has proved his acting chops.”
The Mail also noted that “[i]f Callum, 35, does pick up 007’s famous Walther PPK pistol, producers at Amazon may seal a two-for-one deal with Dua” — who happened to have a Bond girl moment recently — “to create a new song for the opening and closing credits.”
Requirements to Be the Next 007 (& Who Doesn’t Fit the Bill)
GettyAlthough the actor who will play the next James Bond will surely have a certain je ne sais quoi, there are a few other requirements. “Those familiar with the matter tell us that the director and his collaborators are seeking a ‘fresh face’ to take on the 007 mantle in Bond 26. Also, Bond … James Bond will be male, as written by creator Ian Fleming, and importantly, will be an actor who hails from the British isles,” according to Deadline.
That means non-Brit actors like Jacob Elordi, Timothée Chalamet, Glen Powell and Austin Butler may not be up for the role.
Deadline also noted that insiders say the likely candidate is in their late 20s or early 30s, which “means favourites such as Tom Hardy, aged 47, Idris Elba at 53 and Henry Cavill, aged 42, presumably don’t match what [those behind the movie] are leaning towards.”
Beyond that, Deadline asked their sources if Bond could “be played by a non Caucasian,” and the response is that he could be if the actor suits the role.
Vogue explains that “[w]ith the current timeline, a new Bond will be found in 2026, filming will take place in 2027, and the 26th 007 movie will be released in 2028,” and, as Deadline points out, “Bond … James Bond is somewhere out there.”
