Pierce Brosnan praises James Bond hopeful Callum Turner as ‘so strong’

Nov. 4 (UPI) — Pierce Brosnan has nothing but praise for Callum Turner, one of the rumored hopefuls to play the new James Bond.

Brosnan, 73, who portrayed the dashing MI6 agent in GoldenEye (1995) and three other Bond films, weighed in on Turner, 36, and the other prospects in a new interview with Vanity Fair.

Brosnan and Turner, an actor known for the Fantastic Beast sequels, The Boys in the Boat and the Apple TV series Masters of the Air, starred together in the 2017 film The Only Living Boy in New York.

“All the men who are on the list now are actors I admire. Callum, Callum Turner is someone I’ve worked with, and he’s so strong,” Brosnan said.

“They all have a voice and a physique, and a presence on film. They all have longevity as actors, all of these young men,” he added.

Turner, Slow Horses star Jack Lowden and The Crown actor Josh O’Connor are three of the four actors who were offered screen tests for Bond, according to recent reports.

“Whoever plays the role, I wish him the very best of life and strength and courage,” Brosnan said. “You know, it’s hard to tell who it would be, but I eagerly await to hear the news and the celebration of the next James Bond.”

Brosnan also lauded Blade Runner 2049 and Dune director Denis Villeneuve, who was announced in 2025 to direct the next Bond film.

“I think we are going to be blown away … [Villeneuve] is such an iconoclastic director. His work is visionary, and his stealth and imagination of camera work and storytelling is so visceral and sensuous. It’s going to be great. It’s going to be truly magnificent,” he said.

Brosnan, who now stars on the Paramount+ series MobLand, last appeared as Bond in Die Another Day (2002). He was succeeded by Daniel Craig, who played 007 in Casino Royale (2006) and four other films.