Pierce Brosnan Gives Callum Turner His Blessing for Bond While Josh O'Connor Reacts to the Buzz

The search for the next James Bond has become one of the longest-running guessing games in Hollywood. Daniel Craig played the spy across 5 films, and since his exit the franchise has cycled through years of rumors, shortlists and denials, with almost every young British actor of a certain age mentioned at some point.

The machinery behind the scenes has changed, too. Amazon MGM Studios took full creative control of the franchise after longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson stepped back, and Denis Villeneuve was announced as director in June 2025. Steven Knight is writing the screenplay, with Amy Pascal and David Heyman producing, and Pascal has said the new Bond will be named before the end of 2026.

Now two of the most talked-about candidates are making headlines for different reasons. Callum Turner and Josh O’Connor are both rumored to be in the running, and reactions to the idea of either one playing Bond are coming in. The loudest voice so far belongs to a man who knows the job better than almost anyone.

Pierce Brosnan, who played 007 in 4 films between 1995 and 2002, gave Turner a glowing endorsement in a new Vanity Fair interview. He called Turner strong and pointed to their shared work on ‘The Only Living Boy in New York’, where Turner played his on-screen son. Brosnan did not crown Turner his outright favorite, though. He said he admires all the actors on the rumored list, praised their voice, physique and screen presence, and described himself as an audience member eagerly awaiting the announcement.

O’Connor, meanwhile, weighed in during an interview with British GQ. He described being mentioned in the same conversation as the role as a bizarre pinch-me moment and said he had nothing more to add. It is a measured answer from an actor who has been dodging the question for a while.

When asked about the rumors in early 2025, he told Deadline he had heard nothing concrete and joked that a throwaway remark of his own may have helped start the chatter. Turner has taken a similar approach. He told Variety in February that he was not going to comment on the reports about him.

The speculation is not idle noise. Deadline reported that Amazon MGM was setting up its final screen tests, with at least 4 test offers given out. Insiders told the outlet that 3 of the 4 are Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Josh O’Connor, although none of it has been officially confirmed.

According to The Guardian, as relayed by Deseret News, the tests last roughly a week and cover screen presence, stunts and dialogue. A 4th actor remains unnamed. Amazon MGM has said it will not comment on specific details during the casting process, but that it is excited to share news with fans when the time is right.

Several names that dominated earlier chatter appear to have faded. Recent reports indicate that neither Jacob Elordi nor Jack O’Connell is participating in the latest round of tests, and The Hollywood Reporter dispelled the idea that Elordi would screen test. Others, including Tom Holland, Harris Dickinson, Henry Cavill and Paul Mescal, have been mentioned over time without being tied to the final group.

Lowden has stayed guarded about the speculation. Gary Oldman, his co-star on ‘Slow Horses’, said in a September interview that the next Bond had already been chosen and that he hoped it was Lowden, though that remains an opinion and not a confirmation.

There is still no announced timeline for the final decision, though most people expect it by the end of the year. Reports have also suggested Amazon is aiming for a 2028 release, which would make Villeneuve’s Bond his next film.

For now, the endorsements and the diplomatic non-answers are the only public signals. Brosnan’s praise carries weight because of his own history with the role, but it is not a casting decision, and the studio has not said a word about who has the edge.