Pierce Brosnan Praises Callum Turner as Reported Frontrunner for Next James Bond

Former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan has praised Callum Turner, a reported frontrunner for the next 007 role, in a new Vanity Fair interview, saying he is strong. Brosnan said Turner played his son in the 2017 film The Only Living Boy in New York and that all the men on the reported list are actors he admires. Denis Villeneuve is directing the next Bond film for Amazon MGM Studios, and screen tests for the role have recently taken place. Bookmakers William Hill cut Turner's odds from 3/1 to 8/13 after he reportedly resigned as director of his production company, Twentytwo Films Ltd, which he founded with his wife, the musician Dua Lipa. Jack Lowden is now at 2/1 and Josh O'Connor at 9/2.

The Guardian, the left-leaning source, makes Turner the centre of its story, leading with his shortened odds, Brosnan's endorsement and his production-company resignation. It features Brosnan's Vanity Fair remarks and the couple's martini photos, and lists other candidates at longer odds. The Washington Times, the right-leaning source, frames the story around Brosnan's approval of all the candidates and his eagerness to see the next Bond; only a short excerpt was available, so its treatment of Turner, the odds and the resignation cannot be assessed. The A.V. Club, an alternative outlet, has a distinct angle: it leads with Brosnan's praise for Villeneuve, uses a playful tone about his answer on Turner, and omits the betting and resignation details. All sources report Brosnan's praise of the candidates; they differ mainly in whether Turner is the focus.