Bond frontrunner Callum Turner quits film company he founded with wife Dua Lipa in major hint he's about to land 007 role
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James Bond front-runner Callum Turner has quit the film company he founded with wife Dua Lipa as he remains in the race to become 007.
Bosses have been hunting for the next 007 to replace Daniel Craig after he hung up his tuxedo in 2021 after No Time to Die.
Callum has been a favourite to take on the coveted role alongside Slow Horses star, Jack Lowden and The Crown’s Josh O’Connor.
Now, in the latest news, the actor, 36, has resigned as a director of Twentytwo Films Ltd – a potential sign that he’s focused solely on securing the Bond job.
He founded the company with his pop star wife Dua last August with equal shares, aiming to produce film and television projects similar to Margot Robbie's LuckyChap production house.
It comes as screen tests were said to be taking place throughout this weekend.
James Bond front-runner Callum Turner has quit the film company he founded with wife Dua Lipa as he remains in the race to become 007
The actor, 36, has resigned as a director of Twentytwo Films Ltd - a potential sign that he’s focused solely on securing the Bond job.He founded the company with his pop star wife Dua last August
A source told The Sun: 'Callum is making all the right moves to become the next James Bond.
'The role is all-consuming and commitment to it is a top priority of the producers.'
On Friday, the 36-year-old arrived at Bray studios in Berkshire for his audition.
A source said: ‘Daniel Craig’s replacement has been years in the making and Callum was called today to have his chance to impress the bosses.
‘The next three days are going to be very interesting indeed.’
Screen tests are said to have been taking place over the weekend, with between three and five actors understood to have reached the last stages of the process.
Bray Studios is a historic production house on the River Thames, home to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, but was acquired by Amazon MGM Studios, which now controls the Bond franchise, in 2024.
Callum’s meeting with chiefs spells the end of almost a decade-long search to replace Daniel as the world’s most famous spy.
Bosses have been hunting for the next 007 to replace Daniel Craig after he hung up his tuxedo in 2021 after No Time to Die
The Emma actor, who married the popstar Dua earlier this year, has long been the front-runner for the role.
Scottish actor Lowden and O’Connor, both 36, are more recent names to be thrown into the ring and the Australian star Elordi, 29, in the running will no doubt anger die-hard fans who believe Bond should be played by a Brit.
Confirming that the audition process was reaching an end, Bond producer Amy Pascal in August said: 'I would say the end of the year is a good bet.'
Casting by December would allow Amazon MGM Studios to start filming the next movie in 2027.
Dune director Denis Villeneuve, who is taking on the project and bosses at Amazon announced in May that the casting process was underway.
Ms Pascal said: 'We are being really, really methodical. Having worked with Barbara Broccoli at the studio, I mean, Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow.
And it's got to be something really different that is stirring and exciting and different.’
Other stars who were previously linked with the role include The King's Man star Harris Dickinson, along with SAS: Rogue Heroes' Jack Barton.
Only six actors have ever played novelist Ian Fleming's British Secret Service agent 007 in the official film series – Sean Connery, Roger Moore, George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.
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