Berlin – Actor Tracy Letts jokingly claimed he was the next James Bond during an interview at the Berlin International Film Festival on Saturday, responding to questions about the potential casting of his “Rosebush Pruning” co-star, Callum Turner, as the iconic MI6 agent.
Turner, who has been increasingly linked to the role following Daniel Craig’s departure after “No Time to Die” in 2021, was asked directly about the speculation. He offered a brief response, stating, “You’re right, it’s very early for that question. I’m not going to comment on it. Thanks.”
Letts’ quip, delivered to laughter from those present, followed immediately after Turner’s refusal to discuss the matter further. Turner responded to Letts with a playful, “Tracy, I thought you weren’t going to tell anyone!”
The search for a successor to Craig has been ongoing for several years, with numerous actors reportedly under consideration. Alongside Turner, names circulating in the media include Jacob Elordi, Tom Holland, Harris Dickinson, Henry Cavill, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, according to reports.
Denis Villeneuve, known for directing “Dune,” is set to direct the 26th installment in the James Bond franchise. The screenplay is being penned by Steven Knight, the creator of “Peaky Blinders.” Knight previously stated he was writing the script without a specific actor in mind, according to reports from September 2025.
Knight has described the forthcoming story as aiming to be “better, stronger, and bolder” than previous Bond films, suggesting a departure from established tropes. “I’m hoping that, being a Bond fan for so many years, it will be imbued into me and I will be able to produce something that’s the same but different,” he said.
Production is currently slated to begin in 2027, with a potential theatrical release in November 2028. The studio has not yet announced a final decision regarding the casting of the next James Bond.