Callum Turner frontrunner could set up a Daniel Craig-era Bond prequel

Movieweb reports that Callum Turner is the current frontrunner to play James Bond in the 26th film, and that his casting could be interpreted as setting up a canonical prequel to Daniel Craig's era.

The outlet notes Denis Villeneuve is attached to direct and Steven Knight to write, but otherwise few details about the next Bond are available. Turner, known for roles in Fantastic Beasts and Masters of the Air, is said to share a passing resemblance to a young Daniel Craig, which has prompted suggestions that the studio might extend Craig's timeline rather than reboot the character.

The idea remains speculative and, if true, would be a first for the franchise: Bond has never been presented as a canonical prequel to a previous actor's run. Movieweb points out Craig's Bond died in No Time to Die, ruling out a direct sequel, and that Turner would have limited room to portray a younger version of Craig's Bond — Craig was 38 in Casino Royale while Turner turns 36 in February 2026 — meaning a short run such as a duology, trilogy, or even a single outing is among the possibilities. Beyond the casting talk and the director/writer attachments, little else is confirmed.

Key Topics

Culture, Callum Turner, Daniel Craig, Denis Villeneuve, Steven Knight, James Bond