Ex-007 Casting Director Rejects Jacob Elordi, Callum Turner as Next James Bond

Debbie McWilliams, the veteran casting director for the James Bond series, has expressed her disapproval of potential candidates Jacob Elordi, Callum Turner, and Harris Dickinson for the role of the next 007. Having worked on Bond films for four decades, from 1981's For Your Eyes Only to 2021's No Time to Die, she believes these actors are too recognizable. McWilliams, who was responsible for casting Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig, told The Independent that Bond should remain a mystery, preferring someone "completely out of the blue." She also asserted that Bond should be male, as originally conceived by Ian Fleming. The search for the next Bond is currently led by casting director Nina Gold and director Denis Villeneuve, with Amazon confirming the process began in May. Gold, known for casting Daisy Ridley in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, has also worked on Game of Thrones. Producers Amy Pascal (Spider-Man) and David Heyman (Harry Potter) are involved, with the screenplay for the 26th Bond film penned by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.