It’s been four years since Daniel Craig officially announced his departure from the James Bond franchise
It’s been four years since we last saw Daniel Craig don the iconic tuxedo as James Bond, and ever since he hung up his Walther PPK, fans have been left wondering – who will be the next 007?
The final film, No Time To Die, marked the 27th instalment in the legendary franchise, but so far, there’s been no word on the title of the next film or who will step into Bond’s stylish shoes. The character, created by Ian Fleming for his series of spy novels in 1953, was catapulted to global fame in the 1960s when it hit the silver screen.
Over the past six decades, a host of Hollywood heavyweights have portrayed the suave secret agent, including original Bond Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and of course, Daniel Craig. Now, with Amazon reportedly snapping up the rights to the franchise in a staggering $1 billion deal, anticipation is mounting over who will usher in this new era of Bond.
Bookmaker Betway has thrown its hat into the ring, releasing odds that blend established stars with up-and-coming talent, giving us a glimpse at who might be chosen to fill those legendary loafers – and tux. According to Betway, pop sensation Harry Styles is currently an outside bet to play the next James Bond, with odds of 200/1.
Will Poulter and Jonathan Bailey are in the running with odds of 66/1 and 50/1 respectively, but all eyes are on the top half of the list. The all-male lineup includes some of the biggest British actors currently in the industry, as well as some emerging faces, reports the Express.
However, leading the pack with the best odds is Aaron Taylor-Johnson, at 11/10.
Taylor-Johnson, who entered the industry as a child actor, has had an impressive career trajectory. From starring in the teen rom-com Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging in 2008 to featuring in Danny Boyle’s latest thriller, 28 Years Later.
At 35, he seems to be a fan favourite for stepping into Bond’s shoes, potentially bringing a new edge to the role with his long hair and full beard – quite different from the smooth 007 we’re used to.
While Taylor-Johnson is currently leading the odds, there are plenty of other contenders hot on his heels. Henry Cavill is a potential front-runner with odds of 3/1, followed by Callum Turner at 5/1 and long-rumoured potential Bond, Theo James, at 8/1.
James has taken on a number of roles that align closely with the genre, in The White Lotus and The Gentleman, demonstrating his ability to handle gritty action roles while maintaining the charm and wit typical of a 007 character. Fans were convinced he’d be the perfect fit, but the odds have started to slip, and it’s believed that he himself has ‘shut down’ the idea.
He confessed to The Guardian: “Everyone’s interested in playing Bond because it’s a big part of British cultural identity, but that probably wouldn’t be me… I do think there are better people for that job. And, honestly, it would be terrifying… You’re opening Pandora’s box.”
Meanwhile, Taylor-Johnson was quizzed by a reporter at the premiere of his latest film about his next venture, to which he responded, “I can’t talk about it.”
Fans continue to speculate as the iconic franchise gears up for its next instalment, and rumours are rife that the next blockbuster is already under development.
The full list of odds:
Aaron Taylor-Johnson – 11/10
Henry Cavill – 3/1
Callum Turner – 5/1
Theo James – 8/1
Harris Dickinson – 10/1
Jack Lowden – 10/1
Aaron Pierre – 12/1
James Norton – 16/1
Josh O’Connor – 25/1
Regé-Jean Page – 25/1
Paul Mescal – 25/1
Idris Elba – 33/1
Tom Hardy – 33/1
Cillian Murphy – 33/1
Stuart Martin – 33/1
Jonathan Bailey – 50/1
Will Poulter – 66/1
Source: Mirror
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