Next James Bond frontrunner forced to address casting rumours after months of speculation surrounding Daniel Craig replacement

Mr Turner has long been tipped for the part, with his name regularly featuring in the rumour mill alongside the likes of Aaron Taylor-Johnson, James Norton, Cillian Murphy, and many others.

A journalist suggested addressing "the elephant in the room" early on during the conference in Berlin, to which Mr Turner responded with a knowing grin.

"You're right, it's very early for that question," the 35-year-old remarked before he addressed the question directly - although not in the way many Bond fans would have hoped.

"I'm not going to comment on it," Mr Turner dryly replied, pouring cold water on any hopes he'd provide any insight.

However, his refusal to engage with the rumours has only intensified speculation that discussions may already be underway, with some suggesting a non-disclosure agreement could be preventing him from speaking openly.

Fellow cast member Tracy Letts swiftly came to Mr Turner's rescue, defusing the tension with a well-timed quip.

"I'm sorry, I'm the next James Bond!" the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright declared, drawing laughter from the assembled journalists.

Mr Turner played along with the jest, responding: "Tracy, I thought you weren't going to say anything!"

The 60-year-old American actor, who portrays a wealthy patriarch in the film, wasn't finished with his Bond-related humour.

When director Karim Aïnouz was later asked what a 007 movie might look like under his direction, Mr Letts once again intervened, announcing that Mr Aïnouz was directing "my James Bond."

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The lighthearted exchanges provided welcome relief at a festival where several high-profile attendees have faced scrutiny for declining to engage with political questions.

Mr Turner is far from the only name being floated for the coveted spy role.

Jacob Elordi, Tom Holland, the aforementioned Mr Taylor-Johnson and Regé-Jean Page are also among the actors frequently mentioned as potential contenders, with reports suggesting one has already met with Villeneuve.

Additional names in the mix include Anthony Boyle, Leo Suter, Harris Dickinson and Idris Elba, keeping speculation firmly alive as the search for Daniel Craig's successor continues.

The franchise has been seeking a new lead since Mr Craig's departure following No Time to Die in 2021. Mr Villeneuve is now attached to helm the Amazon Studios production, though no official casting announcement has been made.

Peaky Blinders writer Steven Knight has been tasked with creating the next instalment in the franchise.

Meanwhile, Mr Turner was accompanied at the Berlinale by his fiancée Dua Lipa, with the couple making their way down the red carpet together for the film's world premiere on Saturday evening.

Rosebush Pruning, directed by Mr Aïnouz, boasts an impressive ensemble including Riley Keough, Jamie Bell, Elle Fanning, Lukas Gage, and Pamela Anderson, though Ms Keough and Ms Fanning were absent from the press conference.

The dark drama follows four American siblings living in an opulent Spanish villa, grappling with inherited wealth and family secrets.

When the eldest brother announces plans to move in with his girlfriend, long-buried truths about their mother's death begin to surface.

The screenplay comes from Efthimis Filippou, a frequent collaborator of Yorgos Lanthimos on films including The Lobster and Dogtooth, and draws inspiration from Marco Bellocchio's 1965 work Fists in the Pocket.