Steve Starr
- Aaron Taylor-Johnson (+250) is favored to be the next actor to play James Bond
- Daniel Craig left the iconic spy franchise after starring in five films over a 15-year span
- Speculation continues to run rampant on which actor will take over as 007
The 25th installment in the James Bond franchise, No Time To Die, earned over $774 million worldwide. Yet, the film’s producers certainly aren’t in a hurry to replace the outgoing Daniel Craig. Apparently, the casting process hasn’t even started!
Still, that hasn’t stopped speculation on who will takeover as Britain’s most famous spy. Before we examine the 007 odds, check out the top betting sites for Entertainment in 2023 and the latest betting odds for the 2024 Oscars.
Next James Bond
| Actor |  |  |  |
| Aaron Taylor-Johnson | +100 | +250 | +100 |
| James Norton | +600 | +500 | +600 |
| Henry Cavill | +800 | +400 | +800 |
| Rege-Jean Page | +900 | +600 | +900 |
| Jack Lowden | +1000 | +1500 | +1000 |
| Richard Madden | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Idris Elba | +1200 | +1000 | +1200 |
| Sope Dirisu | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Tom Hardy | +1400 | +1200 | +1400 |
| Aidan Turner | +1600 | +2000 | +1600 |
| Michael Fassbender | +1500 | +1500 | +1500 |
| Chiwetel Ejiofor | +1800 | +1800 | +1800 |
| Jamie Bell | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Paul Mescal | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
What we know do far
The casting decision on who will play James Bond lies with Barbara Broccoli and her brother Michael G Wilson. Back in 2021, the 61-year-old producer said Ian Fleming’s iconic character “should be British” and added that “British can be any [ethnicity or race]”. However, Broccoli nixed the idea of woman playing the part, saying, “We should create roles for women, not just turn a man into a woman.”
At a recent British Film Institute event, Wilson also confirmed they don’t want someone over 40 or a youngster, saying, “Bond isn’t some kid out of high school that you can bring in and start off. That’s why it works for a thirty-something.”
Celebrating the start of London Fashion Week and the work of the Bond costume designers. pic.twitter.com/s5CDKiCuSw
— James Bond (@007) June 10, 2023
Aaron Taylor-Johnson fits the bill
Aaron Taylor-Johnson (+250) has been favored for the role since November 2022. The 32-year-old has appeared in Kick-Ass, Bullet Train and Avengers: Age of Ultron, but is by no means a household name. That fits the playbook of the spy franchise, which traditionally has elevated relatively-unknown actors to the A-list, instead of casting established Hollywood stars.
According to British newspaper The Sun, Taylor-Johnson aced his screen test with Broccoli. But, can that report be believed? Here’s what James Bond author Charlie Higson had to say about casting rumors: “As soon as the papers say so-and-so is being considered… you know they’re not going to be the next James Bond. You know they’ve been rejected.”
June 7th 1994: Pierce Brosnan is announced as the new James Bond, photographed here alongside Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli in London. pic.twitter.com/WhlV3Z1kss
— James Bond (@007) June 7, 2023
Other top contenders for 007
James Norton (+600) has risen ahead of heavily-rumored names such as Henry Cavill (+800), Rege-Jean Page (+900), Idris Elba (+1200), and Tom Hardy (+1400) in recent months. Norton is best known for the BBC thriller McMafia, but he also enjoyed a small part in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women.
Of late, there has been Internet chatter around Richard Madden (+1000) from Game of Thrones and Bodyguard. Best known for AppleTV’s spy thriller Slow Horses, Scottish star Jack Lowden (+1500) could be the ultimate darkhorse for Bond. The 33-year-old boyfriend of Saoirse Ronan has showcased impressive range in an eclectic mix of roles and cleans up nice in a suit.
Just like his acting, Paul Mescal's style is consistently good. pic.twitter.com/42L7B6RvWY
— Esquire UK (@EsquireUK) June 6, 2023
Best Bet
Paul Mescal (+2000) has generated buzz after picking up an Oscar nomination for Aftersun and a Best Actor Olivier award for his stage performance in A Streetcar Named Desire. At age 27, the hunky Irish actor might be considered too young for the role. Then again, he’ll be close to 30 when the 26th installment of the James Bond franchise finally hits theatres.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
