With a new year comes newBond... hopefully. It's been almost four months since Amazon MGMannouncedthatDunemastermind Denis Villeneuve would direct the first Bond film since Daniel Craig retired from his turn as the character. Still, it feels as if we're a long way away until we learn who, exactly, will succeed Craig.
If rumors are to be believed—and this time, it seems as though there's at least a little truth to the matter—Callum Turner will sign to His Majesty's secret service. Take this with a rather large grain of salt, but on January 5,theDaily Mailquoted a source close to Turner as saying, "He's been blabbing all over town. Callum is the new Bond, it's been confirmed. Everyone in his circle is talking about it. It's the worst-kept secret going."
No matter how suspect that quote may sound, it's a good occasion to wonder what the British actor's version of Bond would actually look like. And whether anyone has asked Dua Lipa if she can sing "Goldfinger." Here's how Turner would shake up—and definitely not stir—Denis Villeneuve's upcoming film.
Denis, Meet Callum
The road to the new Bond has not been smooth, thanks to Amazon's acquisition of the IP and a producer turnover. The best news so far is that 007 has a new director in Villeneuve. The French Canadian director, best known for hiscut-above sci-fi seriesDune, has a pleasingly procedural style. It is slick, humane, stylish. It's hard to think of anyone working today better suited to the post. He's used to directingyoung Monsieur Chalametin those adaptations of Frank Herbert's novels, but he has also worked with Ryan Gosling in aBlade Runnersequel and Amy Adams inArrival. It's hard to gauge exactly how that vision will fit with Turner's potential casting—the British actor has an old-world soulfulness to him—but it is a genuinely exciting thought.
Would Callum Turner Channel Seasoned Connery or Skew Closer to Craig?
The thing about being Bond is that you have in-built comparisons, even before you have started the role. Will Turner be a one-timer like George Lazenby? Or will he be smooth like Sean Connery? Turner has starred in at least three interesting projects: the afterlife rom-comEternity, the Jane Austen adaptationEmma,and the upcoming Cornish ghost-ship dramaThe Rose of Nevada. I have hopes that he will continue that vibe—it's a sort of sensitive gruffness—as Bond.
Will We Meet a Bond for the New Age? Or an Echo of Something Classic?
Bond is a yardstick. At any point in the franchise's history, his characterization tells us something about how we live. Craig provided a famously no-nonsense take on the role, which suited the start of a new century.Let's knock this thing down and build it all back, the producers seemed to say. His predecessor, Pierce Brosnan, was all '90s cool: heavy on the suave, even heavier on the gadgets.
What the hell does Bond mean in 2026? Theeternal conversation around masculinityreached an undeniable fever pitch last year in popular culture, and more recently we've seen a wider embrace of conservative values. There's a sense that a lot of big-name IP is staying resolutely apolitical. We'd wager that someone like Turner meets both moments: The 35-year-old very much looks the part in every sense, right down to those broad shoulders. But you also get the feeling that you could introduce him to your cool friends. Not for nothing, when I interviewed the London-born actor forGeorge Clooney'sThe Boys in the Boat, he was very nice indeed. (I don't actually have a say in Bond casting.)
Let's Get Dua Lipa in the Studio, No?
Turner's fiancée is Dua Lipa, a Grammy-winning pop star and ambassador for taking multiple holidays per year. I'm afraid we are not classy enough not to suggest a moment of brand synergy here. Let's get her in the studio! She's just finished a tour, so scheduling should be a breeze—and she certainly has the voice to give the theme song some convincing smoky glamour. We want something a little slinky like "Houdini," the lead single from her second album, or else an '80s callback like "Don't Start Now." There's a chance for some real humor here, and it could be a real hit. (Just look at herBarbiesmash "Dance The Night.") Amazon, Denis, Callum? Let's make it happen.
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