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As we approach the summer months, trailers are already hitting cinemas for films that studios hope will be blockbuster hits.
The next chapter of the James Bond story won’t be released this year, but that hasn’t stopped discussions taking place as to who will take over from Daniel Craig in the coveted role.Â
Aaron Taylor-Johnson remains the hot favourite to be offered the part for the 26th movie in the franchise’s history.Â
Betting sites continue to review their odds, ahead of the announcement as to who Craig’s replacement will be.
Craig’s fifth and final entry as secret agent 007 enjoyed its world premiere at the Royal Albert Hall in London on September 28, 2021 after a long delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic.Â
Wider releases followed in the United Kingdom and the United States, and in spite of concerns about people’s appetite to return to cinemas, No Time To Die made just under $775 million at the box office.
Co-starring Academy Award winners Rami Malek and Christoph Waltz, it grossed more than $600 million in territories outside of the USA and Canada – a sure fire example of the universal appeal that this particular franchise enjoys.
Taylor-Johnson Looks Set For 007 Duties
After the esteem that Craig was held in during his stint as Bond, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are understandably being very careful about who they select to take on a role that was also previously filled by the likes of Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan.
It has also been said that – as an extension of sorts to tying down an actor to a multi-picture deal – that Broccoli and Wilson will be looking for someone under the age of 40.
For this reason, 33-year-old Englishman Aaron Taylor-Johnson appears to have proven specials betting sites correct in being offered the role.
In addition to featuring in films such as Kick-Ass, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Tenet and Bullet Train, Taylor-Johnson also portrayed John Lennon in Nowhere Boy and won a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe for his role in Nocturnal Animals.
Taylor-Johnson is now the 1/2 favourite to be chosen as the next James Bond.
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Egerton Appears As A Serious Contender
Despite bookmakers making Taylor-Johnson an odds-on shot, Taron Egerton has made the most notable move in recent weeks and is now 11/4 to assume the role.
Back in April 2023, the 34-year-old said he doesn’t think he is the “right choice” for the role.
Fast forward a year and the Tetris star’s stock is only getting bigger and he could be in line to take over from Craig as Bond.
Ever since his role in Kingsman as ‘Eggsy’, the Welsh actor has been touted as a potential candidate.
Cavill Also In The Running For Another Top Spy Role
Even though he turned 40 in May of last year, Henry Cavill (3/1) has featured heavily in the outright betting to be the next 007.
He has taken on some iconic roles on the silver screen in recent years, such as Superman, Sherlock Holmes and Napoleon Solo in the film adaptation of the 1960s TV spy series The Man from U.N.C.L.E.Â
Despite being an American character, the similarities between Solo and Bond are quite striking.
Even if the Bond role doesn’t come his way, Cavill has made a steady contribution to the spy genre outside of his work as Solo.Â
He showcased his action chops as a support player in Mission: Impossible – Fallout and can also be seen in the action spy films Argylle and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare later on this year.
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James, Norton And Woodall Also Featured Heavily In Outright Bond Betting
While some stars have fell down the odds tables, Theo James has only climbed further on the list of potential successors.
His leading role in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentleman for Netflix, was a taster to what life would be like playing Bond, and he did an excellent job.
The 39-year-old has also starred in The White Lotus and The Time Traveler’s Wife, and undeniably has a look of a traditional Bond actor.
James is a 7/2 shot with new betting sites to become the next Bond on the back of The Gentleman’s success.
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James Norton (4/1) and Leo Woodall (5/1) are amongst the chasing pack for the coveted role of Bond, and are certainly not out of the running as far as bookmakers are concerned.
A well-respected TV actor that has starred in the likes of Happy Valley, Grantchester, War & Peace and McMafia, 38-year-old Norton was also in the 2022 film Rogue Agent – where he played Robert Hendy-Freegard, a real-life conman who tricked and convinced several people that he was an MI5 agent.
Woodall, who first arose to public knowledge when he appeared in The White Lotus, catapulted his chances with a starring role in One Day as Dexter Mayhew.
The only outstanding factor in the way of the Englishman is the fact that he is just 27 years old, which may be a touch too young for such a consuming role.
Bailey And Idris Remain In Contention For The Role
Idris Elba has fallen down the pecking order to feature, with odds of 25/1 available, his namesake Damson Idris is trending in the right direction when it comes to Bond betting.
Not necessarily a household name when it comes to the world of film, Idris is perhaps best known for his six-season spell as the lead in Snowfall – an American crime drama series co-created by the late John Singleton.
The 32-year-old hails from Peckham in London, and is listed as a 6/1 shot for the role.
Slightly shorter than Idris is Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey, who is 11/2 to become the next Bond.
The 35-year-old has a strong pedigree across theatre and TV, and his role in Bridgerton has increased his stock further.
His range of acting ability makes him a great candidate to take the reins off Craig and he would no doubt thrive in one of the biggest roles in the world.
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A Number Of Candidates Still In With An Outside Shot
Coming in just behind Norton and Page is the Academy Award nominated Paul Mescal – who is rated as a 7/1 hopeful.
Meanwhile, a number of betting apps continue to lean towards Rege-Jean Page for the role at 8/1.
At 35 years of age, the London native appears to have the perfect profile to be a long-term successor of Craig and he impressed during his short spell as Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings on Netflix’s Bridgerton.
Making up the list of hopefuls is Barry Keoghan (10/1).
The Irishman recently starred in the psychological drama Saltburn, for which he gained nominations for a Golden Globe and BAFTA Award for Best Actor.
* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.
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