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After the iconic Daniel Craig’s 007 era wrapped up with the 2021 film No Time to Die, marking his fifth and final appearance in the globally famous spy franchise, the hunt for the face to replace him has intensified, given the next James Bond movie eyes a 2027 release window. For months now, the oddsmakers have been betting big on Hollywood A-listers like Henry Cavill, Harris Dickinson, Callum Turner, etc., as a potential hero in a black tux with a license to kill. However, according to Daily Mail, a new name has suddenly captured the makers’ eyes, and it’s none other than The White Lotus and Divergent star Theo James. Since the character has to be British to continue the legacy of the character, a few Bridgerton stars are also being considered. Check out the frontrunners.
Also read: How James Bond films’ creative control went to Amazon, what this means
Reportedly, both Ladbrokes and Coral, the betting websites, now have Theo James as the leading face, placing him at 6/4 odds, ahead of Superman fame Henry Cavill, former top choice Callum Turner, and others who’ve been bouncing up and down the list. But contrary to being the popular choice, the actor once dismissed the idea of playing Bond, calling the role ‘terrifying.’ Speaking to The Guardian earlier, James said, “Everyone’s interested in [playing Bond] because it’s a big part of British cultural identity, but that probably wouldn’t be me.” He labelled signing up for the character as “opening Pandora’s box.”
Before James shot to the top, Henry Cavill, who is no stranger to playing superhero roles, was the most popular choice. The website places him second. What’s even more interesting is that during Daniel Craig’s audition, the makers were most impressed by Cavill, who also auditioned for the role but was rejected only because of his young age. Fans believe the actor could finally land the role.
Also read: Explained: The enduring legacy of James Bond
The 34-year-old Aaron fits the younger Bond mould. Rumours were rife last year that he’d even filmed a Bond screen test. He was once seen as Barbara Broccoli’s pick, but with new producers on board, nothing’s locked. “Aaron went for a screen test to be the next Bond in September, and producers and Barbara loved him. He is now one of the front-runners.” The actor has earlier impressed with his roles in films like Action Man in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Godzilla and Tenet.
Norton exploded to fame with the release of 2016’s Happy Valley, and his winning streak continued with films like War and Peace, Grantchester, and more. Being a Cambridge alum with strong backing from the industry, rooting for his 007 role, Norton has a high probability of taking over the next Bond film. “He’s got everything that you need. First of all, he’s extremely attractive, very smart, he’s well-educated, and he’s a fantastic actor. And he’s sexy, right? I’m not wrong, I mean, women are gonna love him,” said Diane Keaton while pitching for the actor’s role in the film.
Considered a dark horse in the race, Lowden’s been steadily climbing the popularity list. He’s delivered solid performances in war dramas and thrillers, but whether he can carry a billion-dollar franchise is still being viewed through a sceptical lens. What gives him an edge is that he’s played a spy in Apple TV’s hit franchise Slow Horses for four seasons and is set to return for more. Lowden’s Bond stock stands at 5/1 on Betfred, while he’s at 7/1 on Paddy Power.
Fresh off Babygirl’s success, Harris, 28, was once in the bookies’ top three but has since slipped to a much lower position. The actor recently made it to the Cannes red carpet last week and later for an interview with the BFI, where he was pressed on the rumour he playfully downplayed the hype: “Jonathan Bailey is your first choice, so let’s go with that.”
Another British heartthrob, Turner, has the classic look and rising star power, but hasn’t yet broken through in the way that others have. Pierce Brosnan, Tom Hiddleston, Tom Holland, Joseph Quinn, and Idris Elba are just a handful of names adding to the popularity list. Josh O’Connor (16/1) and Stuart Martin (20/1) are more like long shots at this point.
Both Bridgerton stars, who have already made themselves household names thanks to Netflix, are a few popular contenders for the James Bond movie. They round out the top 10 list. While Page has a chance to land the role with 25/1 odds, it’s still too soon to consider Jonathan in the betting market. The bookies have him at around 80/1.
After Amazon bought MGM Studios in 2022, it got its hands on the Bond franchise’s distribution rights. Earlier this year, they reportedly spent around $1 billion to regain creative control, which had always been tightly held by longtime producer Barbara Broccoli. New producers David Heyman and Amy Pascal are reported to be locking in Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity, Roma) for the director’s chair, and once that is a done deal, they will progress with the lead cast. Insiders say Amazon is eyeing Liverpool as a stand-in for the next Bond city.
Click for more updates and latest Hollywood News along with Bollywood and Entertainment updates. Also get latest news and top headlines from India and around the World at The Indian Express.
