Pierce Brosnan backs Callum Turner to become the next James Bond: 'He’s so strong'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Pierce Brosnan has approved Callum Turner as a potential successor to the iconic James Bond role, saying the actor has the strength and screen presence required to play 007.
The former Bond star also shared his excitement about Denis Villeneuve taking charge of the franchise, as the search for Daniel Craig’s successor continues.
Pierce Brosnan praises Callum Turner as a potential James Bond
Brosnan, who portrayed the British spy across four films between 1995 and 2002, told Vanity Fair in a new interview that he was eagerly waiting for the announcement of the next Bond, just like other fans. Asked whether he was following the casting discussions, the Irish actor described himself as an audience member and said he was looking forward to seeing who would take on the iconic cinematic role.
“Oh, I’m just an audience member now. I’m just the man in the street who is eager to see who is going to play this epic role of cinematic history,” Brosnan said.
He added that he admired all the actors whose names had been linked to the role, particularly Turner, whom he previously worked with in the 2017 film 'The Only Living Boy in New York'.
“Callum Turner is someone I’ve worked with, and he’s so strong. They all have a voice, a physique, and a presence on film. They all have longevity as actors, all of these young men,” he said.
According to Variety, the other frontrunner for the role appears to be 'Slow Horses' star Jack Lowden, with final auditions reportedly taking place in London. Josh O’Connor and Jacob Elordi are among the other actors whose names have previously been floated.
Asked what advice he would offer the next actor to wear Bond’s signature suit, Brosnan wished him success, strength and courage. He added that he was eagerly awaiting the announcement and the celebrations surrounding the next James Bond.
Brosnan also expressed enthusiasm about 'Dune' director Denis Villeneuve's upcoming take on the spy franchise. Praising the filmmaker's distinctive approach, he described his work as visionary and highlighted his imagination, camera work and storytelling.
“I think we are going to be blown away. I really do,” Brosnan said, adding that Villeneuve's interpretation would be “truly magnificent.”
Debbie McWilliams rejects Callum Turner and Jacob Elordi for James Bond
While Brosnan has expressed support for Turner, former Bond casting director Debbie McWilliams has a different opinion about some of the actors linked to the role. McWilliams, who worked on the franchise for 40 years, recently said she did not want to see Turner, Jacob Elordi or Harris Dickinson become the next 007.
Speaking to The Independent, McWilliams explained that Bond needed to retain an element of mystery and believed audiences already knew too much about the three actors.
She said it was essential for the character to remain an enigma, adding that viewers did not need to know about Bond's personal life, family, shopping habits or home. She also stressed that audiences needed to believe he was capable of carrying out his duties as a spy licensed to kill.
McWilliams pointed to the casting of previous Bonds, including Timothy Dalton, Brosnan and Daniel Craig. She noted that Dalton and Brosnan were not particularly well known before taking the role, while Craig had worked mainly in independent films and was not a household name.
According to her, casting someone relatively unknown would help preserve the character's mystery. She also maintained that Bond should remain a man because that was how author Ian Fleming originally wrote the character.
