After Daniel Craig hung up his Walther PPK following No Time To Die in 2021, one of Hollywood’s most persistent questions has been this: who will be the next James Bond? While the answer remains officially unknown, 2026 is shaping up to be the year we start getting clearer signals — from bookies’ odds to industry whispers to emerging frontrunners in the global casting conversation.
At the centre of the latest buzz is Callum Turner, the 35‑year‑old British actor who’s become the odds‑on favourite with bookmakers to be the next 007. Turner surged up betting lists late in 2025 and into early January 2026, with firms cutting his odds ahead of other contenders, and his name now widely touted in entertainment coverage as the red‑hot favourite to take on the iconic role.
@independent
The alleged “worst-kept secret” in film circles? That the next James Bond will be played by Callum Turner. The Independent's Chief TV and Film Correspondent Jacob Stolworthy explores whether the British actor would fit in to the newly-acquired Amazon MGM Studios franchise. Click the link in bio for more
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Some of that momentum stems from industry gossip — including an unverified report that Turner has been “blabbing all over town” that he’s been cast as Bond, and that his partner Dua Lipa might even record the theme song for his debut. Whether true or just tabloid buoyancy, the speculation feels more grounded than many earlier rumours around other actors. Turner ticks several boxes: he’s tall, charismatic, classically handsome without being a cinematic megastar, and has a steady career that doesn’t scream too big to play Bond.
But Turner isn’t the only name in the mix — and a strong case can be made that we shouldn’t treat the current favourite status as a final word. Long before Turner’s profile rose, other actors were floated: Aaron Taylor‑Johnson, Henry Cavill, Tom Holland, Jacob Elordi and Harris Dickinson have all been mentioned at various points in the last year as potential Bonds. Holland, unusual among them, even responded to rumours directly, though without confirmation.
Importantly, recent industry reporting suggests that director Denis Villeneuve and Amazon MGM Studios are seriously considering a “fresh face” — possibly someone relatively unknown — for the role, with casting not expected to begin until Villeneuve has finished work on Dune: Part Three. That could mean the final choice ends up being someone not yet front of mind for the public.
So, who will be the next Bond? The honest answer, for now, is that nobody knows for sure. What is clear is that the hunt for the next 007 is active, the rumour mill is spinning at full throttle, and names like Callum Turner have captured the imagination of fans and punters alike. As more official updates arrive — whether an announcement from Amazon or a reveal of production casting — the speculation will begin to be replaced by certainty. Until then, theories remain just that: theories.
