George Clooney campaigns for Callum Turner as next James Bond in interview

It is also now known that Canadian director Denis Villeneuve is set to direct the next Bond film. Which actor will take on the role is one of the most discussed questions in the film industry. In the past, various names have repeatedly been mentioned, including Turner.

The Brit himself recently reacted calmly to the ongoing speculation. He found the situation mostly amusing because a lot and yet nothing was happening at the same time, said Turner. „Es ist so seltsam, dass etwas passiert und gleichzeitig überhaupt nichts passiert. Ich weiß wirklich nichts. Ich finde es einfach ziemlich amüsant", he explained.

Turner himself reacts calmly

Friends and acquaintances are also constantly asking him about the state of things. „Sogar die besten Freunde fragen danach, Leute, mit denen man seit zehn Jahren nicht mehr gesprochen hat, schreiben Nachrichten – und man weiß gar nichts!", said Turner. There is no official confirmation that he is in the running.

Parallel to the speculation surrounding Turner, British actor Idris Elba also recently spoke about the topic in an interview with GQ magazine. Elba, who is 53 years old, said he had „immer für unrealistisch gehalten" being considered for Bond himself. „Ich habe das immer für unrealistisch gehalten", he said.

Idris Elba and the question of casting

Elba also justified his assessment with the brand's global reach. „Bond ist auf der ganzen Welt groß. Und nicht alle Zuschauer würden ‚auf einen Schwarzen Mann, einen afrikanischen Mann, stehen, der Bond spielt'", said the Brit. In some markets, such casting would not „resonanz" in his view.

„Das ist nicht das, was sie in ihrer Kultur mögen. Punkt", added Elba. He had always had a „realistisch" assessment regarding the role. Elba has for years been one of the actors publicly tipped as a possible Bond successor, without ever having been officially nominated.

Clooney's public endorsement of Turner is notable insofar as Hollywood stars rarely commit to a candidate before the franchise's official selection process. The fact that an Oscar winner and former Bond candidate himself — Clooney had repeatedly been mentioned as a possible 007 in the 2000s — is campaigning for a colleague is considered an unusual but impactful endorsement in the industry.

The responsible studios and rights holders have so far not commented on Clooney's remarks. Observers nevertheless see the statement as a snapshot of sentiment within the industry, which could increase the pressure on those responsible to make a decision in the foreseeable future. Until then, the speculation about the „perfekten" Bond is likely to continue.