Daniel Craig's succession still hasn't been settled, but the casting of the next James Bond appears to be entering its final stretch. Several names have been doing the rounds for months, with Callum Turner and Josh O'Connor among the most seriously touted candidates. Now a former 007 has weighed in and publicly thrown his support behind one contender in particular. That man is none other than Pierce Brosnan, who played the secret agent in four films between 1995 and 2002. He made no secret of his admiration for Callum Turner, whom he knows personally and considers particularly convincing in the role.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, the Irish actor was first keen to point out that he's following this succession as nothing more than a spectator. He has no intention of playing talent scout or officially anointing whoever picks up the Walther PPK. When it comes to Callum Turner, though, Brosnan doesn't hide his enthusiasm. The two shared the billing on The Only Living Boy in New York, Marc Webb's 2017 film, in which Turner played his son. “I've worked alongside Callum and I find him extremely convincing,” he said.
The endorsement comes at a good time for Callum Turner, whose name keeps cropping up in conversations about the next 007. Brosnan doesn't shut the door on the other hopefuls, however, reckoning that the actors currently in the frame all have genuine screen presence, the voice and the physique required to take on this iconic character. He wishes them “strength and courage”, well aware of the pressure that inevitably comes with such a succession.
It has to be said that taking over the role after Daniel Craig will be no small task. The British actor left a deep mark on the franchise with Casino Royale, before bowing out in No Time to Die in 2021. Since then, Amazon MGM Studios has been hunting for whoever will carry the 007 badge in what looks to be a reboot of the franchise (given how No Time to Die ended, it can't be anything else). The next film will be directed by Denis Villeneuve, with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight on scriptwriting duties. Nina Gold, the renowned casting director, is overseeing the auditions. Brosnan also used his Vanity Fair interview to praise the Canadian film-maker's work. He even predicts the result will be “breathtaking”, describing a visionary director whose staging and sense of storytelling should bring something powerful to the saga. The next James Bond is expected to start shooting in 2027 for a planned 2028 release, which means the choice will be made within the next few weeks at most.
