James Bond fans may have just had the biggest hint so far when it comes to confirming who the next 007 is going to be – and the bookies agree.
Callum Turner has now accidentally secured himself as the firm favourite and is odds-on to take over from Daniel Craig, who bowed out after 2021’s No Time To Die.
The Eternity star, 36, has long been in the running, but at the Berlin Film Festival, he was outright asked if he’s set to take his martinis shaken, not stirred.
‘I’m not going to comment,’ deflected Callum while promoting his new film Rosebush Pruning, admitting it was ‘a little early’ in the panel for that chat.
Although he kept a calm head, betraying nothing, his co-star Tracy Letts came to his rescue and declared, ‘I’m the next James Bond!’
Despite his unwillingness to divulge any conversations he may have had with Bond bosses, the numbers are looking good for Dua Lipa’s man.
As it stands, Paddy Power shares exclusively with Metro, his odds of 4/6 cement him as the favourite to be the next man donning the famous tux.
‘Callum Turner looks to have dropped the biggest hint yet he’s going to be the next Bond, with his tight-lipped response surely indicating he could be getting his Licence to Kill paperwork filled out by HR right now,’ said a spokesperson.
‘Our traders at Power Tower certainly think he’s set to fill Daniel Craig’s shoes.’
London-born Callum sits firmly ahead of the competition, with previous frontrunner Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s odds at 13/8 and Jacob Elordi having a 6/1 shot.
While past rumoured successors have included Henry Cavill, Idris Elba, Andrew Garfield, and Paul Mescal, there’s also some fresh blood in the mix.
Netflix star Leo Suter and West End performer Anthony Boyle are both 8/1 shots, while two-time Bafta nominee Harris Dickinson is at 9/1.
Speculation is also rife about who will sing the next Bond theme tune, with reports claiming pop star Dua could team up with her future husband in the ultimate power couple move.
As per Paddy Power, she’s currently 13/8 to provide vocals for the next soundtrack, following in the musical footsteps of Billie Eilish, Adele, and Sam Smith, while other possibilities are Lana Del Rey (favourite at 6/4), Raye (5/1), Lady Gaga (13/2), Harry Styles (7/1), and Chappell Roan (15/2).
Alas, there’s still no set date for an official announcement of who our next 007 is – but we surely can’t be far away now.
Latest James Bond odds
Callum Turner 4/6
Aaron Taylor-Johnson 13/8
Jacob Elordi 6/1
Leo Suter 8/1
Anthony Boyle 8/1
Harris Dickinson 9/1
According to industry insider Deadline film reporter Justin Kroll, cameras could start rolling again in just a few months.
‘I am predicting summer, if I had to be a betting man,’ Kroll said on the My Mom’s Basement podcast. ‘Because I think production will likely start [at the] end of this year/top of next.’
He continued: ‘Obviously, it could be a little sooner, but from everything people have said since I’ve been back, Bond is more likely middle of the year than first quarter.’
There has already been a string of developments in the production process, with the franchise being acquired by Amazon’s MGM Studios in 2022.
Long-serving producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson reassured audiences that they would retain creative control, though, and Dune filmmaker Denis Villeneuve was confirmed last June as the next director in the franchise.
He’ll bring to life the script penned by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight in what has already been declared a dream team.
Who do you see as the next Bond?
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Callum Turner
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Aaron Taylor-Johnson
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Jacob Elordi
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Leo Suter
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Anthony Boyle
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Harris Dickinson
Other details are being kept under wraps, such as who could be the next Bond villain, with Margot Robbie making an unexpected entrance to the race.
Meanwhile, The Housemaid lead Sydney Sweeney is the hot fave to be the next glam Bond Girl, and she played coy when asked about it in an interview.
According to Variety, Sydney ‘unravelled’ when the topic was brought up before ‘regaining her composure’ for the remaining questions.
‘I can’t. [Seven-second pause.] I don’t know. [10-second pause.] To be honest, I don’t know all the Bond rumours, but I’ve always been a huge fan of the franchise, and I’m excited and curious to see what they do with it,’ she finally said.
So, it looks like some people really do know more than they’re letting on…
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