Rumors are circulating (and betting markets are responding) that Dua Lipa is currently the frontrunner to perform the theme song for Bond 26.  Simultaneously, her fiancé, Callum Turner, has emerged as a credible contender for the role of the next James Bond.

Although I haven’t yet seen Turner’s work firsthand, he has the right combination of attributes that typically align with the role, including “the look” and an impressive résumé that includes substantial film roles and noteworthy television award nominations.  At 35, he’s on the upper end of what I’d consider ideal for launching a Bond origin-era arc, but still within range.  And most importantly, outside of the UK he isn’t a household name, with relative anonymity working to a Bond actors’ advantage.

Dua Lipa, meanwhile, is an undeniable star with an impressive voice and a catalogue I genuinely enjoy, yet I struggle to envision her as the right match for a Bond movie that aims to mark the beginning of a new Bond era. In my opinion, her bubbly-pop-dance sound, while commercially successful, doesn’t seem to be the ideal tone that a Bond movie origin story demands.