George Clooney has thrown his weight behind Callum Turner to take up 007, saying the British actor has the looks and charisma for Bond after working with him in 2023. The next installment is under Amazon MGM Studios, with Steven Knight writing and Denis Villeneuve attached to direct, while Turner publicly tempers the speculation.
George Clooney has a clear favorite for 007, and it is Callum Turner. Drawing on their 2023 collaboration Ils étaient un seul homme, he touts Turner’s physique and charisma as chatter and betting markets push the actor to the front of the pack. Turner, for his part, stays cautious as the rumor mill spins around him. All this unfolds while Amazon MGM Studios steers the next chapter, with Steven Knight writing and a powerhouse trio of Amy Pascal, David Heyman and Denis Villeneuve in the frame for James Bond 26.
George Clooney shares his pick for the next 007
Speculation around the next Bond never really cools, but it warmed up this week with a candid nod from George Clooney. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actor-filmmaker named Callum Turner as his personal favorite to inherit 007. It is a fan-friendly pick from someone who has watched the franchise closely, and who recently worked with Turner up close.
Why Callum Turner caught Clooney’s eye
Clooney directed Turner in the 2023 rowing drama The Boys in the Boat, released in the US on December 25, 2023. He admired Turner’s “physical intensity and flair,” qualities that sit well with Bond’s mix of charm and grit. Turner’s résumé backs it up, from Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald to Emma, and his name often surfaces in betting chatter about Daniel Craig’s successor.
How Callum Turner is approaching the buzz
Turner has kept the mood light. He joked that even old friends text as if a tux fitting is already booked, but he stresses nothing is official. Indeed, he treats the talk as a compliment, not a promise. For an actor with momentum, that restraint matters, especially when a global franchise can redefine a career overnight.
What’s actually known about Bond’s next chapter
Behind the scenes, the franchise remains steered by EON Productions, with longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. Since Amazon acquired MGM in 2022, distribution and studio support run through Amazon MGM Studios in the US. No director, title, or start date has been announced, and no casting decisions have been confirmed.
That caution tracks with recent history. The last entry, No Time to Die (2021), closed Daniel Craig’s tenure with a definitive goodbye and a reset for the series. The next film, often referred to as Bond 26, is being shaped quietly, which is typical for 007. So does Clooney’s endorsement move the needle, or simply spotlight a rising British lead? It does a bit of both, keeping Turner in the conversation while the official roulette wheel stays spinning offstage.