The 5 latest favourites to be the next James Bond revealed
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It’s the big unanswered question that has been on everybody’s lips ever since Daniel Craig hung up his Aston Martin — who will be the next James Bond? With 007 being killed off at the end of 2021’s No Time To Die, the future of the movies remains a mystery. The franchise was recently acquired by Amazon MGM Studios – which, for better or worse, signifies a full revamp of the Bond universe – and with Dune’s Denis Villeneuve directing the next instalment, and Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight writing the script, things are off to a promising start. (Picture:
The new direction, however, means that whoever does land the role has a big tuxedo to fill and a lot riding on them in becoming the latest icon to bring the superspy to life, following in the footsteps of Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and Craig, among others. Previously, the likes of Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Henry Cavill, Tom Holland and James Norton have been touted as potential candidates, but recent betting odds has seen all that change. So, who is the current front-runner with bookies? Over to Dominic Celica, head of PR for Freebets.com to fill us in… (Picture: Danjaq/Eon/Ua/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)
Callum Turner – 7/4
There’s a new frontrunner to take on the role of Bond – and it’s actor Callum Turner. The Fantastic Beasts and Boys In the Boat star is now just 7/4 to take over where Daniel Craig left off. It’s a sharp drop in odds considering he was previously an outsider. ‘This is the clearest turning point we’ve seen in the Bond race all year,’ Dominic told Metro. ‘Callum Turner has gone from interesting outsider to the man everyone has to beat, and the latest price move to 7/4 proves it. His momentum isn’t just strong, but snowballing.’ (Picture: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Jonathan Bailey – 3/1
Second in the betting is Bridgerton and Wicked actor Jonathan Bailey, who currently has odds of 3/1 on becoming shaken and not stirred in the role — an impressive leap in the odds. ‘His surge to 3/1 is one of the most dramatic jumps we’ve recorded in months,’ Dominic says, ‘and it tells us the industry noise around him is absolutely real. Bailey has gone from dark horse to genuine contender in impressive time.’ (Picture: EPA)
Aaron Taylor-Johnson – 7/2
Don’t get us wrong, Aaron Taylor-Johnson is still very much in the frame for potential Bond duties, but following the recent shuffle in the betting the 28 Years Later star is no longer the favourite. As Dominic points out: ‘He’s still in the mix, but that sense of inevitability that once surrounded him has evaporated. The market is clearly shifting toward fresher, more versatile contenders.’ (Picture: Luca Carlino/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)
Theo James – 9/2
Theo James’ name has popped up in the betting before and the star of The White Lotus andThe Monkey is still being seen as a solid contender, currently sitting fourth in the betting with odds of 9/4. Theo also saw his odds boosted earlier in the year after he starred in a sizzling advert for Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue fragrances, in which he emerged from the ocean in a pair of white briefs… (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage)
James Nelson-Joyce – 5/1
Completing the new top five is a new arrival in the betting – actor James Nelson-Joyce. The star of Black Mirror and This City Is Ours has emerged as a surprse 5/1 contender for the role, with Dominic noting that the actor is continuing ‘to build steady momentum’. It’s also been noted that his small but meaningful boost into the top five reflects the widening expectations of the role – and shows it is anything but a two-horse race. But what of previous hopefuls? (Picture: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
The others
As the new contenders make their mark, so others who were previously seen as front-runners have seen their odds drop. Henry Cavill, for example, is now 6/1 to step into Bond’s shoes – suggesting it’s increasingly unlikely he might be the next superspy. Dominic says: ‘Theo James and James Nelson-Joyce continue to build steady momentum behind the favourites, and both now sit above Henry Cavill, which would have been unthinkable a year ago. Cavill’s fall to 6/1 reflects a wider belief that the franchise wants something new, not familiar.’ (Picture: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
He adds: ‘Turner looks like the frontrunner for a reason — and Bailey is the first contender who looks capable of catching him. Put simply, the market is telling us Bond is heading in a different direction: younger, more nuanced, more adaptable.’ (Picture: Gisela Schober/Getty Images) Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
