Pierce Brosnan has weighed in on the search for the next James Bond, singling out Callum Turner for praise as the British actor gains ground in the race to succeed Daniel Craig.
Brosnan, who played 007 in four films from GoldenEye through Die Another Day, worked with Turner on the 2017 drama The Only Living Boy in New York. Turner played his son in the film, giving the former Bond firsthand experience with one of the actors now linked to the role.
Pierce Brosnan as James Bond in “The World is Not Enough” – YouTube, James Bond 007
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“Callum is someone I’ve worked with, and he’s so strong,” Brosnan told Vanity Fair. Brosnan also praised the other actors in contention for their screen presence and said he was eager to see who gets the part. His comments give Turner a vote of confidence from a former 007 as Amazon MGM Studios has yet to announce its choice.
Callum Turner Moves Ahead With Bookmakers
Turner has also overtaken Jack Lowden as William Hill’s favorite for the role. The bookmaker shortened Turner’s odds from 3/1 to 8/13, with Lowden at 2/1 and Josh O’Connor at 9/2, The Guardian reported on November 4. All three actors reportedly took part in the final round of screen tests for director Denis Villeneuve’s film.
Some of the supposed clues are thinner than others.
Callum Turner – The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, YouTube
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Turner’s resignation as a director of Twentytwo Films, the production company he co-founded with his wife, Dua Lipa, fueled speculation about his next move. The news only recently gained traction online, however, official documentation shows that he stepped down in December 2025. At the time, he was already considered a front-runner for the role, even though it was about ten months before screen tests for Bond began.
More recent Halloween photos show Turner and Dua Lipa sipping martinis. Whether they were shaken or stirred is unknown. A drink order can keep Bond fans guessing, but the reported screen tests offer a firmer basis for putting Turner in the conversation.
At 36, Turner already has experience in a major franchise, having played Theseus Scamander in two Fantastic Beasts films. He also led George Clooney’s rowing drama The Boys in the Boat and starred opposite Elizabeth Olsen and Miles Teller in Eternity. Those roles give audiences a sense of his range, even if many would still come to a Bond film without a fixed idea of what to expect from him.
Brosnan’s backing may ultimately carry more weight.
Amazon MGM’s First Bond Casting Decision
The search follows Craig’s final appearance as 007 in 2021’s No Time to Die and a change in who steers the franchise. Amazon MGM took creative control in 2025, and the next film has Villeneuve directing, Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight writing, and Amy Pascal and David Heyman producing. Pascal has indicated that a casting announcement is likely by the end of the year.
Callum Turner and Austin Butler in Masters of the Air – Apple TV, YouTube
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The change in leadership has also revived debate over how closely the next Bond should follow Ian Fleming’s character. Longtime Bond casting director Debbie McWilliams, who helped cast Timothy Dalton, Brosnan, and Craig, has argued for keeping the character as Fleming wrote him. She has also said she would prefer a lesser-known actor who could preserve some mystery around the role. McWilliams has retired from the franchise, leaving that decision to a new team.
If Turner gets the job, the first look at his Bond will answer a more interesting question than who led the betting. Brosnan brought a polished confidence to the role, while Craig leaned into Bond’s physicality and weariness. Villeneuve and his leading man will have to decide which qualities to carry forward and what their version of 007 can bring to the series.
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