George Clooney has cast his lot with a particular actor for the highly coveted role of James Bond.
The Hollywood veteran, known for his acting and directorial achievements, recently weighed in on the next agent 007. The “Fantastic Mr. Fox” star had high praise for a man he once worked with.
The next James Bond actor has remained an open topic for years since the former star, Daniel Craig, stepped down from the role after the 2021 installment “No Time to Die.”
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Clooney made his allegiance known in a new interview, revealing that he is rooting for Dua Lipa’s husband, Callum Turner, to be the next Bond. The rising actor won Clooney’s heart when he starred in the 2023 movie, “The Boys in the Boat,” which the Hollywood veteran produced and directed.
Given their history, Clooney argued that Turner would make the perfect candidate for the Bond franchise. “I hope Callum ends up being the next Bond. I think he would be a great Bond,” he told Hollywood Reporter, adding:
“He’s tall and handsome and charming and British, so he’s the perfect guy to do it.”
Callum Turner Has All The Qualities The Oscar Winner Likes
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Clooney’s praises continued, with the director hailing Turner for choosing quality over “easy paychecks” when it came to his roles. He noted Turner had “done really interesting work” and managed to showcase his prowess as an actor while avoiding Hollywood drama.
“Somehow Callum has weaved his way through all of the noise and found a place where people look at him and go, ‘There’s something with this young man,’” Clooney said. He stated that it was “exciting” watching people pay closer attention to Turner.
Clooney reiterated that Turner had what it took to be a leading man. Filmmaker Will Gluck echoed similar sentiments about Turner’s qualities as a lead actor. “If you’re a guy like Callum who is really funny while also physical, and can be an action-movie hero — those are the ingredients that we used to have in movie stars,” Gluck declared.
Idris Elba Isn’t Rooting For A ‘Woke’ Bond Franchise
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While Clooney is rooting for Turner to be the next Bond, fans have placed bets against him, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Harris Dickinson, and Jacob Elordi. Before these rising stars in the industry became fan favorites for the next agent 007, many had been calling for Idris Elba.
The Hollywood heartthrob’s name made waves for some time as the perfect candidate to take over Craig’s legacy, but Elba did not share the same sentiments. In an interview with GQ published on June 8, Elba stressed that he was not on board with changing the character’s race, saying:
“Bond is so unrealistic, so a hint of reality is good, but let’s not try and make it woke. I think you’ve got to be pure to what it is: escapism. Don’t try and answer the world’s taste. Just be Bond.”
The ‘Hobbs & Shaw’ Star Doesn’t Want A Black Person For The Role
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Elba confessed that he was flattered that many had considered him a good Bond candidate, but he did not believe a Black person should continue the franchise. He argued that Bond “was written how he was written for a reason” and realistically, some markets prefer it that way.
“Bond is big all over the world. And [audiences] won’t [all] go for a black male, an African male, playing Bond. That’s not what they like in their culture. Period,” Elba explained. Despite arguing that a black person shouldn’t play the predominantly white character, Elba changed his tune for another movie.
The veteran actor landed the part of Man-at-Arms in 2026’s “Masters of the Universe,” a cartoon character known for its ginger mustache. Elba joked that the character looked nothing like him, but he did not mind taking the role because “Man-At-Arms could be any color! He’s got green legs, for God’s sake!”
Daniel Craig Doesn’t Care Who Picks Up The Mantle Of James Bond
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While Elba believes a Black man shouldn’t be the next Bond, Craig, on the other hand, isn’t bothered. In a 2024 interview with Variety, the actor was asked whom he would like to portray Agent 007, but he bluntly replied, “I don’t care.”
Craig never expected to play Bond as long as he did, previously confessing in a 2022 interview that he thought it would be one movie. When he found out there were five installments to complete, Craig dropped a shocking request.
According to the “Spectre” star, he, the franchise’s producer Barbara Broccoli, said that he wanted to kill off his character by the end of the fifth movie, and she agreed. Craig’s wish came true in 2021 when his on-screen persona died a heroic death, per the U.K.’s The Times.
