Irish 00s heartthrob new favourite to play James Bond villain in big screen revival

The latest candidate for James Bond’s next archenemy is unexpectedly an Irish heartthrob.

Six years after Daniel Craig announced his retirement from the franchise, fans are still speculating who may take on the role of 007 as well as the role of his next villainous adversary.

Betway turned to a supercomputer to forecast who might take on the role of James Bond’s next adversary, analysing traits shared by previous villains – including age and gender at the time of filming.

Topping the list with a 15.8% likelihood is acclaimed Irish actor Colin Farrell, making him the most probable candidate to face off against 007.

Hot on his heels is Dune star Oscar Isaac, who came in with a 13.8% chance of landing the villainous role.

Not far behind, Oppenheimer lead Cillian Murphy emerged with a 9.6% probability, while fellow Irishman Barry Keoghan – known for Saltburn and The Banshees of Inisherin – secured an 8.5% chance, placing him in the top four.

Also in the mix are Pedro Pascal, with an 8.2% likelihood, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson – previously rumored to be in the running for Bond himself – who scored a 7.3% chance of becoming the franchise’s next big bad.

Former favourite Idris Elba, 52, previously ruled himself out from playing the British spy, while other hotly tipped actors, including James Norton and Theo James, have not confirmed any involvement.

Ladbrokes have also given preferential odds to the likes of Henry Cavill, Jack Lowden, and Tom Hardy in the past.

The new odds come during a period of major upheaval behind the scenes of the Bond universe.

Amazon Studios officially purchased MGM for $8.45billion (£6.7billion) in 2022, with a new agreement over creative control meaning Bond — and whoever is next to play 007 – is entirely under the streamer’s control.

It is a landmark decision as family-run Eon Productions has brought Bond to the big screen since the franchise began.

After decades of tight creative control, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson – heirs to the franchise through their father, original Bond producer Albert ‘Cubby’ Broccoli – have ceded key decision-making power to Amazon MGM Studios.

Given all the changes in the franchise, it’s perhaps not surprising if an unexpected pick like Farrell ends up as the next Bond villain.

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