For months now,Kick-AssandBullet Trainstar Aaron Taylor-Johnson has been rumored for the role ofJames Bond, with theKraven the Hunterthe favorite to take over from Daniel Craig following 2021’sNo Time to Die. But, has the critical and financial failure of hisSony and Marvel outing hurt his chances? Maybe, as a new favorite has now emerged…and he could be fantastic.
According to the betting siteCoral,Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of GrindelwaldstarCallum Turnerhas seen his odds halved from 4-1 to 2-1, meaning there’s now far more chance that he could be the next actor chosen to sport the iconic tuxedo. Best known for roles in theHarry Potterspin-off franchise, as well asGreen Room, Assassin’s Creed, and the acclaimed television seriesMasters of the Air, Turnercertainly fits the criteriaas laid out by longtime 007 producers Barabara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.
Not only does Turner have both the look and the acting chops for the role of James Bond, he may also have the perfect profile, as the somewhat lesser-known actor has seen his name hitting several tabloid headlines thanks to his relationship and subsequent engagement to the musician and Grammy Award winner Dua Lipa.
Who Are the Other 007 Favorites Alongside Callum Turner?
Looking at the rest of the list of 007 favorites, Aaron Taylor-Johnson is still in the lead at 4-5, with the likes ofHappy Valleystar James Norton on 7-2,Gladiator 2’sPaul Mescal on 6-1,Bridgertonstar Regé-Jean Page andBlack Mirror’sDamson Idris on 8-1, andThe Gentlemen’sTheo Jameson 9-1.
However, while the odds will change and speculation will continue to run rife, we could be waiting some time before finding out who will be chosen to take on the mantle and wield 007’s licence to kill. A new report from theWall Street Journalhas claimed that trouble is brewing between producer Barabara Broccoli and Amazon after the latter purchased MGM for a reported $8.5 billion back in March 2022.
Former Franchise Star Says Female Bond is “Like Mary Poppins Being Played By a Man”
“Respect the tradition.”
The report reveals that Amazon is nowhoping to turn James Bond into a franchisemuch like the MCU andStar Wars, eyeing spin-off movies and TV shows to create more “content” for their streaming platform Prime Video. Broccoli has reportedly not taken kindly to this strategy, with the producer branding Amazon “f***ing idiots” over their plans, which she believes would be “like a death knell” for the franchise.
Insiders added that Barbara sees Bond as a “lucrative family heirloom” and said she has a “den mother over all the stunts, explosions and egos,” with the producer able to “hold Bond hostage from Amazon for as long as she sees fit.” So, while the idea of Callum Turner as the next 007 may have fans excited, it could be a while before he, or anyone, suits up as the beloved spy.
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