Callum Turner has finally weighed in on being a favourite to take on the cherished role of James Bond, and he already has the backing of a Hollywood heavyweight.
The 36-year-old actor has become hotly-tipped to become 007 in the forthcoming instalment after Daniel Craig stepped down at the end of 2021’s No Time To Die. Though still in the early stages of pre-production, the next Bond movie is already gaining considerable interest, largely due to the involvement of director Denis Villeneuve (Dune) and writer Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders).
Since Craig first started hinting at his exit as far back as 2016, rumours over who was replacing him have been ongoing – with Idris Elba, Aidan Turner, Jacob Elordi and dozens of others being reported as a consideration.
.jpg?trim=60,0,60,0&auto=webp&quality=75&width=1200 "Who is favourite to be the next James Bond? Callum Turner leads race ahead of Jack Lowden")
But Turner has now become the new hot favourite, after Amazon MGM announced in May that the hunt for the new Bond had officially begun.
Acclaimed casting director Nina Gold – whose credits include Game of Thrones, The Crown and Star Wars – has been recruited to help find Daniel Craig’s successor.
However, Turner has kept tight-lipped about being linked to the role… until now.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Turner simply said: “I know as much as you do” before refusing to comment on whether or not he was interested.
“I’ll tell you what’s so funny about the Bond thing: Even your best friends ask you, people text you that you haven’t spoken to for 10 years — and you know nothing!” he added.
“It’s such a weird thing of something happening and nothing happening at all.
“I genuinely know nothing. I just find it quite amusing.”
However, he already has one person in his corner to take on the role – A-list star George Clooney, who was also interviewed for the outlet.
He declared: “I hope Callum ends up being the next Bond. I think he would be a great Bond.
“He’s tall and handsome and charming and British, so he’s the perfect guy to do it.”
In a poll by RadioTimes, fans of the franchise shared who else they would love to take on the role – with The Witcher and Superman star Henry Cavill getting the most mentions, followed by Tom Hiddleston, James Norton, Theo James and Idris Elba.
Elba has taken himself out of the running, however, saying that speculation was “never legit” in an interview with GQ – adding that fans of the franchise wouldn’t take to a Black actor getting the job.
“It was always just a rumour,” Elba told the publication. “I’ve always felt that it’s not a realistic thing. James Bond was written how he was written for a reason. But I was complimented by it.”
It’s also been noted that Gold has been tasked with getting a younger actor for the role – with the idea to keep them on in the part for multiple movies.
Bond 26 doesn’t yet have a release date.
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