Potential 007 Callum Turner Reveals His Favorite Spy Film Ever
As speculation swirls around who will be the next James Bond, one top contender has shared his all-time favorite espionage thriller. The rising star's choice is a deep cut from the 1970s, a classic he praises for its stunning and unforgettable opening sequence. What film captured his admiration?
It seems like every British actor of a certain age eventually gets their name thrown into the ring for the role of James Bond. As a London native in his mid-30s and one of Hollywood's most promising new talents, it was only a matter of time before Callum Turner joined the conversation.
A Career on the Rise
His early work on the big screen didn't exactly scream "future superstar," with supporting parts in movies like Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy’s _Victor Frankenstein_, the lackluster _Assassin’s Creed_ adaptation, and the now-defunct _Fantastic Beasts_ series. These roles hardly made him stand out as a must-watch talent.
However, projects like John Boorman’s _Queen and Country_ and Jeremy Saulnier’s intense thriller _Green Room_ provided a platform for him to truly showcase his abilities when he wasn’t pushed to the background in CGI-heavy blockbusters. He has continued to build on that momentum with impressive performances in George Clooney’s _The Boys in the Boat_ and the acclaimed World War II series _Masters of the Air_, a follow-up to _Band of Brothers_ and _The Pacific_.
The 007 Connection
Given that he was born in 1990, grew up in the United Kingdom, and is well-known without being overexposed, Turner fits the profile many expect for the next super-spy. Sure enough, rumors have suggested he is director Denis Villeneuve’s top choice to put on the tuxedo and reboot the franchise for its 26th movie. Of course, the official casting is still a long way off, let alone the start of filming.
We'll have to wait and see if he ultimately takes over the mantle from Daniel Craig. In the meantime, it’s interesting to note that one of his most-loved movies is deeply rooted in the world of covert operations and conspiracy.
A Classic Conspiracy Pick
When asked by _Letterboxd_ to name his four favorite films, Turner’s first selection was a classic from director Alan J. Pakula. “I’m going to go for _The Parallax View_,” he said. “I just think it’s the most beautiful. The opening, you would never be able to do that now. The guy rolls off the top of a rotating restaurant tower.”
That is indeed how the 1974 political thriller kicks off. Paula Prentiss’s character, Lee Carter, witnesses a presidential hopeful named Charles Carroll take a fatal fall. While it's clearly an assassination, the mysterious Parallax Corporation works to cover it up. The real killer escapes cleanly while a patsy is killed, and over the next three years, six other witnesses die under suspicious circumstances.
This forces Carter, fearing she’s next on the list, to seek help from an investigative reporter played by Warren Beatty. Not to give away a 50-year-old plot point, but her fears are justified, which pushes the determined journalist, Joseph Frady, to uncover the truth no matter the cost.
More Than Just a Spy Flick
_The Parallax View_ is definitely not a traditional spy movie, and you can’t really connect it to the world of Bond in any meaningful way. But it is packed with subterfuge and paranoia, and the fact that it’s one of Turner’s top picks shows he has an appreciation for cinematic intrigue.
Will he get the call to be the next agent 007? That decision seems to be in Villeneuve’s hands for now, but he certainly wouldn't be the worst choice for the part.