Pierce Brosnan has given his clearest signal yet about who he thinks should pick up the James Bond tuxedo. The Irish actor, who played 007 in four films from 1995 to 2002, told Vanity Fair that Callum Turner stands out among the final candidates because of their shared history on a 2017 film.
Turner, 36, has moved to the front of the Bond casting race in recent weeks. Bookmaker William Hill cut his odds from 3/1 to 8/13, putting him ahead of Jack Lowden at 2/1 and Josh O’Connor at 9/2. No official announcement has come from Amazon MGM Studios, but the search is reportedly in its final stage with screen tests already held in London.
What Pierce Brosnan Said About Callum Turner
Brosnan spoke to Vanity Fair in an interview published on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Asked about the ongoing Bond conversation, he stayed generous toward every candidate before singling out Turner.
“All the men who are on the list now are actors I admire. Callum Turner is someone I’ve worked with, and he’s so strong.”
— Pierce Brosnan to Vanity Fair
The two actors worked together on The Only Living Boy in New York in 2017. Turner played the son of Brosnan’s character in the drama, which also starred Jeff Bridges and Kate Beckinsale. Brosnan did not stop at praising Turner alone. He described the whole shortlist as actors with “a voice and a physique, and a presence on film” and said they all have “longevity as actors”.
“Whoever plays the role, I wish him the very best of life and strength and courage. You know, it’s hard to tell who it would be, but I eagerly await to hear the news and the celebration of the next James Bond.”
— Pierce Brosnan
Brosnan also had warm words for Denis Villeneuve, the director taking over the next Bond film. He called Villeneuve “such an iconoclastic director” with “visionary” work and said audiences are “going to be blown away”.
Who Is Callum Turner?
Turner was born on February 15, 1990, in Hammersmith, England. He started as a model before moving into acting. His early credits include Queen and Country in 2014 and Assassin’s Creed in 2016.
Wider audiences came to know him as Theseus Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts series. He played the brother of Eddie Redmayne’s Newt Scamander in The Crimes of Grindelwald in 2018 and The Secrets of Dumbledore in 2022. He also appeared in the 2020 Jane Austen adaptation Emma and the 2023 sports drama The Boys in the Boat, directed by George Clooney.
Turner earned strong notices for playing John “Bucky” Egan in the Apple TV+ miniseries Masters of the Air in 2024. His recent work includes the 2025 romantic comedy Eternity and the 2026 satire Rosebush Pruning. He is also set to appear in the cyberpunk series Neuromancer on Apple TV in January.
Off screen, Turner married pop star Dua Lipa on May 31, 2026, at Old Marylebone Town Hall in London, followed by a celebration in Sicily. The couple were first linked in January 2024 and confirmed their engagement in June 2025.
The Film Company Move That Fuelled Bond Talk
Speculation around Turner grew louder after The Daily Mail and The Sun reported that he had stepped down as a director of Twentytwo Films Ltd, the production company he founded with Dua Lipa in August 2025. A source told The Sun:
“Callum is making all the right moves to become the next James Bond. The role is all-consuming and commitment to it is a top priority of the producers.”
— A source to The Sun
The timing was read by some as a sign that Turner is clearing his schedule for a major franchise commitment. No official link between the company move and the Bond casting has been confirmed.
The Other Actors in the Bond Race
Turner is not the only name in the frame. Jack Lowden, known for Slow Horses, was the favourite in prediction markets before Turner surged ahead in recent weeks. Lowden addressed the chatter in an interview with British GQ.
“It’s all very flattering. It’s nice to be mentioned — for any role — and I’m just not really going to add to the noise.”
— Jack Lowden
Josh O’Connor, who played Prince Charles in The Crown, has also been linked to the role. He described being considered for Bond as a “bizarre pinch-me moment” while declining to comment further. Reports have named a fourth, unidentified actor as part of the final screen-test group. George Clooney, who directed Turner in The Boys in the Boat, has also backed Turner publicly, calling him “the perfect guy” for the part.
Bond 26: What Is Confirmed So Far
Bond 26 is the working title for the next official James Bond film. It will be the first Bond movie released under Amazon MGM Studios’ full creative control, following a deal worth more than $1 billion with longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson in February 2025.
Denis Villeneuve, the director of Dune and Blade Runner 2049, is attached to direct. Steven Knight, the creator of Peaky Blinders, has written the screenplay, and he confirmed in September 2026 that the first draft was complete. Amy Pascal and David Heyman are producing the film and overseeing the franchise for Amazon MGM. Pascal said in August 2026 that an announcement on the next Bond actor by the end of the year is “a good bet”.
Production is expected to begin in 2027, with the film planned for a 2028 theatrical release. No official release date has been announced. The film follows Daniel Craig’s final appearance as Bond in No Time to Die in 2021.
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Mixed Reactions from Bond Supporters
Social media reaction to Turner’s frontrunner status has been split. Some accounts have pushed back on the idea, with one popular post saying, “We wanted Jack Lowden not this Dua Lipa guy”. Other users have been more open. “Callum Turner becoming the favorite for the next James Bond will definitely get fans talking,” one supporter wrote on X.
“Callum Turner would be an absolutely perfect James Bond. He has everything it takes: looks, talent, charisma, and he’s British!”
— A post on X
The debate reflects how closely Bond fans follow every signal, from screen-test reports to business filings. Amazon MGM Studios has declined to discuss individual candidates, and no actor has been officially confirmed.
The search for the next 007 has moved through bookmakers, business filings, and a former Bond’s personal endorsement. Official word from Amazon MGM is still pending, and the studio’s final call will settle the race. For more entertainment news and casting updates, keep reading VvipTimes.
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