No, Callum Turner Isn’t the Next James Bond — Here’s Why Fans Aren’t Buying the Daniel Craig Replacement Rumors

Bond rumor season is back, and this round is extra messy: suddenly everyone thinks Callum Turner is the guy. Let me walk you through what is actually being said, what is pure wishful thinking, and why the chatter blew up overnight.

The rumor that exploded

Callum Turner, who you might know from Masters of the Air, Fantastic Beasts, and Emma, shot up the James Bond betting boards last month after his odds tightened fast on the U.K. site Coral, which got picked up by The Standard. Then The Times ran with it, and here we are.

Fans over on Reddit (in a thread from user u/Sneaky_Bond) were not buying the coronation. Their read: Turner becoming the odds-on favorite basically overnight smells like hype. They pointed out that the script is still being written and Denis Villeneuve, who keeps getting floated for the job, has not exactly cleared his calendar. Their belief is that formal casting will only happen after the script is locked and a director is actually free to make the movie.

That said, even the skeptics think pieces of the reporting could be true. The working theory is that Turner has told friends he is interested, his reps may be nudging the press to keep his name warm, and Dua Lipa (Turner is dating her) is trying to line up the theme song. None of that is confirmed, but it explains why his name will not leave the discourse.

So... is Turner a fit?

On paper, yes. He is 35, has solid critical credits, and has not fronted a mega-franchise yet, which historically is the profile producers like for Bond: established enough to act the part, not so famous that the character gets overshadowed. He is also young enough to carry the role for several films. His work in Green Room, Emma, the Fantastic Beasts films, and Masters of the Air shows range and polish. If the mandate is a talented, rising-level actor who can level up to movie-star status, he checks a lot of boxes.

The rest of the shortlist chatter

This is where the speculation goes wide. After talk that Amazon MGM Studios is heavily involved in the next era of Bond, the online wishlists and rumor mill kicked into overdrive. A few names keep coming up, for various reasons:

• Henry Cavill: Longtime fan pick. He reportedly lost out to Daniel Craig back in the day because he was too young, and yes, the 2005 audition clip with the classic line exists. Lately, the narrative has turned that he might be passed over again in favor of someone younger, and his post-DCEU run has been a bit uneven, which is affecting the buzz.
• Jacob Elordi: According to World of Reel, the studio is, quote, below, and planning a screen test next year that includes a tux fitting and action work. Variety also reportedly listed Elordi on a June 2025 under-30 wishlist alongside Tom Holland and Harris Dickinson.
• Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Tom Hardy: Perennial rumor candidates that the internet refuses to let go of. They still come up whenever Bond is mentioned.
• Tom Holland and Harris Dickinson: Said to be on that same under-30 wishlist mentioned above, which suggests the age target is skewing younger.

"quietly pushing for Jacob Elordi as a contender"

Where the movie actually stands

Here is the practical stuff. Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) is reportedly writing a first draft, with a target release around 2028 being floated. The director chatter keeps circling Denis Villeneuve, but he still has other obligations, which is why a lot of fans think casting will not be finalized until schedules and script line up.

Quick reality check on the business side: Eon Productions still controls creative on Bond. Amazon owns MGM (and distributes), but the Broccoli/Wilson team at Eon is the decider on things like casting and tone. There are reports out there that Jeff Bezos asked fans on X who should be Bond; take that with a grain of salt. Corporate overlap does not equal a public poll deciding 007.

Bottom line

Turner is a plausible pick and a savvy rumor for his team to lean into. The sudden betting swing, the press echo chamber, and the Dua Lipa angle make for a loud story, but until a script is in good shape and a director is actually onboard, it is all positioning. If the franchise really is aiming younger and less globally entrenched, Turner belongs on the board. Just do not confuse the board with a contract.