Next James Bond Odds: Momentum Gathers For Henry Cavill To Land 007 Role

After months of waiting, James Bond fans finally received an update on the future of the popular spy series.

It was announced that Amazon would take 'full creative control' from long-term Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson.

It brings an end to a rift between Broccoli and Amazon over the direction of the future of James Bond after Amazon's 2022 acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the studio behind all Bond releases since 1981, and thus acquired the rights to the movies.

The Wall Street Journal spoke to 20 people familiar with the feud between the warring parties and one of the interviewees revealed Broccoli had described Amazon as “idiots” over its plans to introduce spin-off shows and films.

It’s been five years since Daniel Craig announced that No Time To Die would be his last performance as 007, but there has been deathly silence from the production team about his replacement.

Broccoli had previously said Bond is likely to head in a different direction and Wilson revealed in 2022 that the actor portraying him would be in his thirties.

One of the sources talking about the row between Broccoli and Amazon explained the next lead will be “British and male”, but Amazon may have other ideas.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson had been the hot favourite on betting sites to be offered the part for the 26th movie in the franchise’s history, but there is now a new frontrunner and another candidate is proving to be popular with the public.

Here, Gambling.com takes a look at the names in the frame to wear the tuxedo, as the world waits to find out what plans Amazon have for Bond's future.

Happy Valley Star Norton Heads Bond Field

James Norton is now the outright favourite to play the famous British spy, but he is starting to look over his shoulder.

An actor whose versatility has earned him plenty of TV and film roles over the years, he is perhaps best known for playing psychopath Tommy Lee Royce in hit BBC series Happy Valley.

Before then, the Londoner, who was brought up in the countryside of North Yorkshire, charmed ITV audiences for the first four series of detective drama Grantchester in which he played Anglican vicar Sidney Chambers.

However, Norton also proved himself in 2022 spy film Rogue Agent playing Robert Hendy-Freegard, a convicted fraudster who tricked and convinced several people that he was an MI5 agent.

He recently starred in and produced the ITV thriller Playing Nice during which some viewers noticed he was the only cast member not donning a tuxedo at a gala.

That prompted speculation Norton had signed a contract to play 007 in the next film. 

He has been one of the favourites for the Bond gig for some time, but now leads the way at 4.0 with Ladbrokes.

Next Actor To Play James Bond Odds

Taylor-Johnson Still One Of The Favourites

After the esteem that Craig was held in during his stint as Bond, Amazon will understandably be very careful about who they select to take on this iconic part.

One candidate is 34-year-old Englishman Aaron Taylor-Johnson, whom The Sun claimed in March 2024 had been formally offered the job.

Nothing has been confirmed, though, for the actor who has featured in films such as Kick-Ass, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Tenet and Bullet Train.

He also portrayed John Lennon in Nowhere Boy and won a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe for his role in Nocturnal Animals.

The lead in Danny Boyle's upcoming post-apocalyptic horror film 28 Years Later, Taylor-Johnson certainly has the star quality to play Bond.

Taylor-Johnson is just behind Norton at 4.5 to wear the famous tuxedo, although many bookmakers have them neck and neck.

Dickinson Fits The Bill

At 28, Harris Dickinson would appear to be the ideal candidate to be named the next James Bond. 

He has age on his side, which will provide continuity in the role and he could wear the tuxedo for a number of movies. 

In 2021, Dickinson starred in the third chapter of the Kingsman film series - The King's Man, which earned him a BAFTA nomination in the rising star category. 

More recently, he starred in Babygirl, an erotic drama with Nicole Kidman playing a high-powered CEO who embarks on an affair with a younger man, played by Dickinson.

Dickinson is 5.5 to be named the next James Bond.

Gentleman James Has The Name And Looks 

Theo James plays alongside Taylor-Johnson in upcoming heist thriller Fuze which will be released by Sky Cinema, possibly this year.

James certainly has the looks and sophisticated voice to play Bond, and he has proved his versatility with a range of roles over the years. 

Rising to prominence as Tobias Eaton in the film trilogy Divergent between 2014-16, James’ performances went down a storm with teenagers.

More recently he shone as Cameron Sullivan in the second series of HBO’s The White Lotus which won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble.

The 40-year-old from High Wycombe has found a new army of fans in Guy Ritchie’s black comedy The Gentleman in which he plays Eddie Horniman, recently named the Duke of Halstead in his father’s will.

Car lovers will have spotted him in a Range Rover Sport advert in which he drives through the grounds and up the steps of Harewood House in West Yorkshire, before delivering a typical Bond-like one-liner.

In an interview on the Jess Cagle Show on radio station SiriusXM in 2023, James admitted he loves James Bond, but thinks he wouldn't be right for the part.

He said: "I’m a big fan of the concept of it. I loved Casino Royale and some of the Sean Connery movies, but I think they need to do something else. They need to really go with a reinvention of it in a different way and that wouldn’t be me.”

Whether Amazon decide to take a different approach remains to be seen, but if they stick with a winning formula, then James looks to be in the frame at 6.0 with betting apps.

Cavill Gaining In Popularity

Henry Cavill had been a one-time favourite to play Bond, but his odds started to drift once Wilson announced that the lead would be played by someone in his thirties. 

At 41, Cavill does not fit Wilson's profile, but now that Amazon are calling the shots, it's all change and the Superman actor's odds have shortened from 10.0 to 7.0, although he is as low as 4.0 with some bookmakers.

His popularity increased when Amazon owner Jeff Bezos asked fans on X who they would like to see play Bond next and he was bombarded with pictures and gifs of Cavill from an army of fans.

Cavill actually auditioned for the role in 2005, only to lose out to Craig, but could the time be right for him to play Bond?

Matthew Vaughn, who directed Cavill in the film Argylle, claimed the actor was "born to play Bond" and the public seems to agree.

Lowden A Contender

Jack Lowden’s star is on the ascendancy on the back of his performances as River Cartwright in award-winning British spy series Slow Horses.

Lowden’s excellent comic timing brings levity to the series, but he also packs a punch when necessary, so he has the attributes needed to play Bond.

The 34-year-old from Chelmsford also played a leading role as a fighter pilot in Christopher Nolan’s epic World War II drama Dunkirk.

The roles keep pouring in for the Scot, who was 15.0 at the end of October to play Bond, but his odds have been cut to 8.0. 

Turner Prize On The Cards?

Callum Turner, in his mid-thirties, is young enough to perhaps play Bond for a number of movies, bringing continuity to the role. 

Turner has twice been nominated for a BAFTA for Breakthrough Brit in 2014 and for Best Actor in 2020 for his role in The Capture, a British mystery thriller directed by Ben Chanan. 

The actor, who is dating pop sensation Dua Lipa, featured in The Only Living Boy in New York in 2017 and played a leading role in the Fantastic Beasts film series.

Turner's prospects of playing Bond are gradually improving and he is 9.0 to land the role.

Josh O’Connor Sliding Out Of Contention

The viewing public first became aware of Josh O’Connor’s talent in a few episodes of Peaky Blinders in 2014 and then his role as a sheep farmer in the award-winning God’s Own Country three years later.

But, his recent portrayal of Prince Charles in two seasons of The Crown raised his profile to new heights and his career continues to go from strength to strength.

The 34-year-old from Southampton was recently linked with the role of Bond by The Hollywood Reporter which predicted the Challengers actor would be the next Bond to be announced in its list of “educated guesses” for 2025.

O’Connor was not even in the conversation at the start of December, but a casual tip from a media brand specialising in the entertainment industry meant he became a surprising 2.5 favourite, but his odds have since drifted to 9.0.

Mescal Could Shoot To Thrill

Paul Mescal burst onto our screens as Connell in a TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s best-seller Normal People.

The Irishman has time on his side at just 28 and he would perhaps be in the crosshairs of the Bond production team if they decide to revamp the suave British spy as a sensitive soul.

That said, Mescal bulked up for his role as Lucius Verus in Ridley Scott’s star-studded sequel Gladiator II which hit cinema screens in November.

Gaining 18 pounds of muscle on a diet of sweet potato and ground beef will certainly be an advantage, but the feeling remains he is perhaps too indie for such a mainstream role.

Mescal was 8.5 to slip into an Aston Martin and go save the world, but his odds have lengthened to 17.0.

Other names on the next James Bond market include Lucien Laviscount (21.0), Rege-Jean Page (21.0) and Richard Madden (26.0).