George Clooney has picked a side in the next-James-Bond guessing game, and his choice is Callum Turner.
The actor and director said he hopes Turner gets the role after Daniel Craig’s exit from the franchise. “I hope Callum ends up being the next Bond,” Clooney told Entertainment Weekly. “I think he would be a great Bond.”
Clooney, who directed Turner in the 2023 sports drama The Boys in the Boat, added that Turner has the obvious ingredients for the part. “He’s tall and handsome and charming and British, so he’s the perfect guy to do it,” he said.
No new Bond actor has been announced. Turner has been one of the names circulating around the role, but the studio has not confirmed him or anyone else as the next 007.
Clooney Backed an Actor He Has Already Directed
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Clooney’s endorsement has a little more weight than a random casting opinion because he has already worked with Turner. He directed him in The Boys in the Boat, which followed the University of Washington rowing team that competed at the 1936 Olympics.
That film gave Turner a major studio lead role before the current Bond rumors intensified. Clooney’s comments now put a high-profile name behind the speculation without turning it into a casting announcement.
Us Weekly also picked up Clooney’s quote, framing it as a public cosign while noting that the next Bond has not been named.
Turner Said He Knows Nothing About the Bond Search
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Turner addressed the rumors in a new interview with People, saying he knows as much about the process as everyone else. He described the attention as strange because people keep asking him about a job he says he has no information about.
The actor joked that people he has not spoken to in 10 years have reached out because of the Bond talk. He also declined to say whether he would want the role, keeping his answer careful while speculation continues.
Turner’s recent credits include Fantastic Beasts, Green Room, Masters of the Air, and The Boys in the Boat. He is also starring opposite Monica Barbaro in the upcoming romantic comedy One Night Only.
The Next Bond Film Already Has Major Names Behind the Camera
The new Bond movie is being developed under Amazon MGM’s creative control after longtime Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson stepped back from that role. Entertainment Weekly reported that Denis Villeneuve is directing the next installment, with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight writing the script.
Amy Pascal and David Heyman are producing the film. The creative team gives the next Bond era a clear direction behind the camera, but the central casting question remains open.
For now, Clooney has only made the case for Turner. Turner says he knows nothing, Amazon MGM has not announced the new 007, and the Bond role remains one of Hollywood’s most watched open jobs.