One of cinema’s most hotly debated and contentious topics is who will play the next James Bond. After Daniel Craig well and truly ended his stint as 007 in 2021’s No Time to Die, long-time Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have been left with an incredibly tough task.
After embodying Bond in five films over fifteen years, Craig has left some huge shoes to fill while opening the door for another fellow actor to take on the role of a lifetime. In 2021, when asked during a BBC Radio 4 interview if a decision had been made as to who would replace Craig, Broccoli said: “Oh, God no. We’re not thinking about it at all.
“We want Daniel to have his time of celebration. Next year we’ll start thinking about the future.”
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Well now an answer may not be too far away, as just days into 2023, a new frontrunner has appeared in the race to take over the reigns as Britain’s most beloved spy and rumours are flying once again. Here, we take a look at the bookies’ favourites for who could be the next James Bond, with odds from Betfred
Aaron Taylor-Johnson 2/1
English actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson has topped the list of bookies’ favourites to portray Bond after reports emerged that he filmed a secret screen test in September. An insider told The Sun that the 32-year-old impressed the producers and he is now “one of the frontrunners” after filming the franchise’s iconic gun barrel scene.
Bond producers have also reportedly said they are looking for a younger Bond, meaning Taylor-Johnson would certainly fit the bill. He achieved notoriety after his lead role in 2010‘s Kick-Ass and its 2013 sequel.
He has appeared in several blockbusters including monster reboot Godzilla, Christopher Nolan’s Tenet and most recently appeared alongside Brad Pitt in action flick Bullet Train. He is set for a lead role in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe film Kraven the Hunter later this year, which may complicate any potential for stepping into 007’s shoes as producers are reportedly looking for someone “accomplished but not particularly famous,” according to Puck News.
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Henry Cavill 9/4
Henry Cavill has been tipped by many fans as a logical choice for the next 007 for several years, and he even auditioned for the role in his twenties. The 39-year-old is best known for his role as Superman in the DC Extended Universe, where he donned the famous red cape for almost 10 years.
He previously revealed he would “love to play Bond” in an interview with GQ magazine, admitting he would “jump at the opportunity” if the producers came calling. The stars may have aligned for Cavill as his schedule recently became a lot quieter after his stint as the Man of Steel came to an abrupt end just weeks after he stepped down from his role in Netflix’s The Witcher.
He is also no stranger to well-choreographed fight scenes after a scene-stealing bout alongside Tom Cruise in 2018’s Mission Impossible: Fallout.
Rege-Jean Page 3/1
Rege-Jean Page’s career has had a sudden upwards trajectory in recent years. After almost 20 years in the business, he stole hearts in his breakthrough role in season one of Netflix’s period drama Bridgerton in 2020.
After it emerged he would not be returning for its second season, rumours began circulating online that he was firmly in the running to be the next Bond. The 34-year-old told US talk show host Jimmy Fallon he was “pleased” about the rumours linking him to the role, admitting it is something of a “merit badge” for British actors.
Page recently starred alongside Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans in Netflix’s action-thriller The Gray Man and is set to appear in fantasy epic Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves later this year.
James Norton 9/2
37-year-old James Norton is an accomplished actor best known for starring in indie films and several hit TV series. He boasts an accomplished career with main roles in the series War & Peace, McMafia and Happy Valley – the latter of which gained him a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 2015.
He also starred as notorious conman Robert Freegard in 2021 Netflix thriller Rogue Agent and had a supporting role in Great Gerwig’s Little Women. Despite rumours tipping him as the next 007, Norton admitted to The Independent in 2020 that sacrificing roles in indie films to play Bond “would be a hard thing to swallow.”
Tom Hardy 6/1
Tom Hardy’s name has been associated with Bond rumours for several years, with the London-born actor frequently appearing as one of the frontrunners. The 45-year-old has starred in some huge films throughout his more than 20-year career, including roles in Mad Max: Fury Road, The Revenant, The Dark Knight Rises, Legend and Inception.
But as he is now in his mid-40s, Hardy may have aged out of the role if producers are indeed looking for someone to play a younger 007. If he is on the minds of Barbara Broccoli and co., he may get a chance to put his recently revealed martial arts skills to the test as MI6’s most famous secret agent.
Jack Lowden 10/1
The only Scottish actor on our list is 32-year-old Jack Lowden. He boasts lead roles on TV in BBC miniseries The Passing Bells and War & Peace and most recently starred alongside Gary Oldman in Apple TV’s Slow Horses.
Lowden had a stellar year in 2017 when he starred as both The Smiths frontman Morrissey in the biopic England Is Mine, and as an RAF fighter-pilot in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk. He would become the second Scottish actor to play 007 should he be selected, following in the footsteps of the late Sean Connery, who played the iconic spy in seven films.
Elsewhere on the bookies list of potential Bond’s is 12 Years a Slave star Chiwetel Ejiofor, Game of Thrones’ Richard Madden, former Billy Elliot star Jamie Bell and – surprisingly – Dwayne Johnson.
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