I’ll tackle this rumor, which has been picking up steam over the last few days, and will add what I’ve been hearing as well. It started with a Saturday piece from The Daily Mail — yes, I know — claiming that Callum Turner was a done deal to play James Bond. That report quickly spread, to the point where Esquire is now saying the actor will “probably” play 007 in Denis Villeneuve’s upcoming film. Like clockwork, The Times and The Independent are also acting as if Turner is a done deal.
We have to go back to November, which is when these Turner/Bond rumors really gained momentum. At the time, something happened with the bookies overnight. Maybe it was based on insider intel, maybe not — but they suddenly catapulted Turner to the top of their odds for who will play the next 007.
According to them, Turner was the “red hot” favorite to step into the shoes previously worn by Daniel Craig. Because odds move when large bets come in — which was the case with Turner’s rise to the top — many interpreted this as a sign that ‘insiders’ or people close to the project were betting, which in turn fueled more speculation.
Over the weekend, I reached out to my strongest 007 source to ask about these latest rumors, and it turns out there is some truth to them — but, as usual, The Daily Mail is over-reporting what is so far not a done deal. Yes, Turner has caught the attention of Villeneuve and Amazon/MGM, and yes, he is due for a screen test in the coming weeks, but he still hasn’t nabbed the role. Not even close. My source continues to maintain that Jacob Elordi remains in the mix as another potential candidate.
The fact remains: Villeneuve is currently in post-production on “Dune: Part Three” and won’t commit to any actor until that picture is locked.
Turner, who recently starred in A24’s “Eternity,” is 35 and has been sporadically mentioned for Bond before, but never to the extent that even The Telegraph is now saying the actor is ‘strongly rumored’ to play the character. His other notable credits include “Green Room,” “The Boys in the Boat,” “Fantastic Beasts,” and “Masters of Air.”
Knight is rumored to be drawing heavily from Fleming’s earliest novels, which could signal an ‘origin’ Bond — revisiting his Royal Navy background, his recruitment into MI6, and his eventual attainment of ‘00’ status. The story could even be set in the ’50s or ’60s.
Still, casting won’t formally begin until Villeneuve wraps ‘Dune: Part Three.’ Production on Bond 26 is expected to kick off in 2027, with a release planned for 2028 — likely in the traditional November slot long favored for Bond premieres.
The sequel will arrive more than 20 years after the original and nearly two decades after “National Treasure: Book of Secrets,” with Turteltaub returning to direct.