As the race to succeed Daniel Craig as James Bond intensifies, former 007 Pierce Brosnan has weighed in with his preferred candidate. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Brosnan, who played the British spy in four films from GoldenEye (1995) to Die Another Day (2002), gave his seal of approval to Callum Turner, one of the actors rumoured to be in the final running.
Turner, 36, is reportedly among the frontrunners alongside Jack Lowden and Josh O'Connor. Brosnan, who worked with Turner on the 2017 drama The Only Living Boy in New York, praised all the candidates but singled out the British actor. “I’m just an audience member now,” said Brosnan. “I’m just the man in the street who is eager to see who is going to play this epic role of cinematic history. All the men who are on the list now are actors I admire. Callum, Callum Turner is someone I’ve worked with, and he’s so strong.”
Brosnan added that each of the contenders brings something distinct: “They all have a voice and a physique, and a presence on film. They all have longevity as actors, all of these young men.” His advice to the eventual successor was simple: “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.”
Villeneuve's vision
The 73-year-old actor also expressed enthusiasm about the reported choice of director Denis Villeneuve, known for Dune and Blade Runner 2049. “I think we are going to be blown away. I really do. He is such an iconoclastic director. His work is visionary, and his stealth and imagination of camera work and storytelling is so visceral and sensuous,” Brosnan said. He added: “Villeneuve is someone who I have great admiration for, and I look forward to seeing the work.”
Speculation has intensified this week after Turner was spotted at Bray Studios in Berkshire for a screen test on 30 October. Reports also emerged that he had stepped down as a director of Twentytwo Films Ltd, a production company he founded with his wife, Dua Lipa, last year. Insiders interpret this as a sign that Turner is clearing his schedule for the all-consuming role. 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.”
Turner’s rivals have also been in the spotlight. Jack Lowden, who stars in Slow Horses, has received backing from his co-stars Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott Thomas, with the latter's endorsement covered in our earlier report. Lowden told GQ: “On this… 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.” Josh O'Connor, known for The Crown, described the speculation as “such an incredibly bizarre pinch me moment” but declined to confirm or deny anything.
What we know about Bond 26
An official announcement is expected before the end of the year, according to producer Amy Pascal, who said in August that “the end of the year is a good bet.” She stressed the need for a fresh direction: “We are being really, really methodical. Having worked with Barbara Broccoli at the studio, I mean, Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow. And it’s got to be something really different that is stirring, exciting and different.”
Bond 26 is being written by Steven Knight, creator of Peaky Blinders, and will be the first film in the franchise since Amazon took full creative control from longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson. The casting decision will mark a new era for the series, which has been a staple of British and European cinema for over six decades.
For fans, the wait may soon be over. As Brosnan noted, the next Bond will inherit a legacy that spans generations. The choice of actor—whether Turner, Lowden, O'Connor, or another—will shape the franchise for years to come. For now, all eyes are on the producers' final decision, which could come at any moment.
