Is Callum Turner the new James Bond? Which films and TV shows has he been in before as he tells friends his 007 secret
A British actor has allegedly started telling friends that he has been cast as the new James Bond.
What had previously been a hushed operation is now being described by tabloids as “the worst-kept secret” in showbiz, with Callum Turner claiming he has been hired by Amazon for the role.
It has been almost five years since Daniel Craig bid farewell to the part of Bond in the 2021 film No Time To Die. Since then, Amazon MGM Studios has taken full creative control of the franchise and is planning a soft reboot of the series.
According to reports, Amazon plans to take 007 back to the 1950s/60s with a period piece, and initially floated the idea of turning Bond’s adventures into a TV series instead - although that has since been canned.
British tabloids have reported that Turner is telling friends that the part is now his, despite there presumably being a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) in place.
Turner grew up on a London council estate and began his career as a model for Next before moving into acting. His breakout role came as Theseus Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts films, part of the Harry Potter franchise.
He later earned praise for his performance in the 2023 film The Boys in the Boat, directed by George Clooney, and for playing Major John “Bucky” Egan in Apple TV’s Masters of the Air, produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks.
The next James Bond film is being written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight and will be overseen by Dune director Denis Villeneuve. Studio insiders previously said the script was being developed without a specific actor in mind, but that Amazon was naturally looking for someone young and British to take on the role.
Previously, Bullet Train star Aaron Taylor-Johnson was being heavily linked to the part, and was rumoured to have even been presented with a contract by Amazon executives.
If Turner does take on the role of 007, Amazon could look to pair the casting with a Bond theme performed by his fiancee, pop star Dua Lipa. The 30-year-old singer is said to be keen to follow in the footsteps of artists such as Adele, Billie Eilish and Sam Smith by recording a Bond song.
Turner and Lipa began dating in January 2024 and became engaged last summer, but have not announced a wedding date. Speculation around Turner’s 007 links exploded after the couple holidayed at Goldeneye in Jamaica, the former home of Bond creator Ian Fleming.