The Berlin Film Festival press room had barely settled before the inevitable question landed: Is Callum Turner the next James Bond?
The 35-year-old British actor was at the Berlinale to promote his new film Rosebush Pruning, but it didn’t take long for 007 speculation to hijack the spotlight.
And Turner? He handled it with a smirk.
🎬 “I’m Not Going to Comment”
Rumours have been swirling that Callum Turner could be stepping into the iconic tux as the next James Bond, especially as Denis Villeneuve prepares his first Bond installment for Amazon.
When a journalist raised the topic — admitting it was best to “get it out of the way” — Turner responded coolly:
“You’re right, it’s very early for that question… I’m not going to comment on it.”
Cue laughter.
His co-star Tracy Letts jumped in to ease the tension, joking, “I’m sorry, I’m the next James Bond!” Turner fired back, “Tracy, I thought you weren’t going to say anything.”
The playful exchange kept things light — but it didn’t stop Bond from resurfacing moments later, as director Karim Aïnouz was asked what his own 007 film might look like. Letts once again quipped that Aïnouz was directing “my James Bond.”
Safe to say, the rumours aren’t going away anytime soon.
🎥 About Rosebush Pruning
While Bond speculation dominated headlines, Rosebush Pruning itself promises something far darker.
The film follows four wealthy American siblings unraveling under the weight of inheritance, secrets, and unresolved trauma. When the eldest brother announces he’s leaving to live with his girlfriend, old wounds reopen — including questions surrounding their mother’s death.
The ensemble cast includes:
- Riley Keough
- Jamie Bell
- Elle Fanning
- Lukas Gage
- Pamela Anderson
The screenplay comes from Efthimis Filippou, known for his collaborations with Yorgos Lanthimos on films like Dogtooth and The Lobster. The project is loosely inspired by Marco Bellocchio’s 1965 drama Fists in the Pocket.
🏛️ Politics and Power at Berlinale
As is tradition at the Berlinale, political themes surfaced during the press conference. Letts carefully sidestepped direct commentary but noted that the film touches on wealth disparity and how it can fuel destructive behaviour — even fascism.
Director Karim Aïnouz has previously said he hopes the film sparks conversations about patriarchy, generational violence, and the dark undercurrents within families.
“Sometimes the biggest amount of violence comes from within the family,” he remarked in an earlier interview.
Final Words
Callum Turner may not be confirming anything about Bond — but the very fact that the question keeps following him says plenty.
For now, his focus remains on Rosebush Pruning, a psychological family drama that couldn’t be further from martinis and MI6.
Still, if the tux fits…
