Next James Bond Odds: Henry Cavill Favourite To Don The Tuxedo Next
On what is a special 60th anniversary year for the British spy franchise, betting sites are once again giving their odds on who will be the next in line to play James Bond.
On October 5, 1962, Scotland’s Sean Connery became the first actor to play the Ian Fleming creation on the silver screen in Dr No.
American native Barry Nelson (who became known in later years for a small role in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining) previously played the character in a TV adaptation of Casino Royale that featured in an episode of the anthology series Climax!
However, it was certainly Connery who made the role famous from a cinematic perspective.
Who Followed Connery In The Role?
The Edinburgh man went on to make four more appearances in the role, before former Australian model George Lazenby assumed spy duties for 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Connery subsequently returned to the franchise two years later in Diamonds Are Forever and also showed up in the unofficial entry, Never Say Never Again, in the 1980s.
Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan also had stints as Bond in advance of Daniel Craig’s debut as 007 in 2006’s Casino Royale.
This was the first of five films Craig made in the series and given how successful he has proven to be from a critical and commercial point of view, producers and half-siblings Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli will need to think carefully before choosing the next actor to step into the Bond breach.
Producers Provide Clues About The Next Bond
Although no decision has been reached yet, comments made by Wilson at a Bond event in the British Film Institute last Friday offered some suggestion of what we might expect when Craig’s successor is eventually unveiled.
The stepson of original Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli, Wilson said the next Bond will more than likely be someone in their 30s.
Not only does this rule out a 20-something actor from taking the part, it probably means that previous frontrunners like Idris Elba and Tom Hardy – aged 50 and 45 respectively – are unlikely to be under consideration.
Having been the top pick for specials betting sites back in August (despite distancing himself from the role), Idris Elba is now only fifth favourite to play Bond and UK bookmakers offering odds of 10/1 on the Luther actor.
You can find the same odds available on Tom Hardy, with the Oscar nominee possibly taking over from his Layer Cake co-star.
Cavill Top Of The Reckoning
The current favourite is Henry Cavill, who has already shown he can mix it in the spy genre with parts in Mission: Impossible – Fall Out and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
He is currently the 3/1 with Betfair to be handed a role he was previously considered for in the past.
The producers and director (Martin Campbell) of Casino Royale were reportedly torn between him and Craig as Pierce Brosnan’s replacement, before the former was eventually chosen.
Consistent with their current position, the producers had a preference for an older Bond, even though the film depicted the character as someone who had only just assumed his 00 status.
Having been 23 at the time of Casino Royale’s release, Cavill is now 39 years of age.
Whether that puts off Wilson and Broccoli remains to be seen – he would be in his 40s when the 26th entry in the franchise starts filming – but the Channel Islands native would certainly be a high-profile selection.
Regé-Jean Page Second Favourite To Play Bond
All of that brings us to Regé-Jean Page, who appears to tick all the boxes that the Bond producers are looking for.
A breakout star in the first season of Netflix period drama Bridgerton, Page is currently rated at 5/1 with Ladbrokes.
At just 34 years old, Page is someone who could lead the franchise for several films across a long period of time.
Born in London to a Zimbabwean mother, he (or Elba if that was still a possibility) would become the first black actor to take on the role.
He has worked extensively across film, television and theatre in recent years, but has significantly increased his cinematic output as a result of his success in Bridgerton.
Since 2020, he has taken on supporting parts in Sylvie’s Love and The Gray Man, with the latter seeing him acting alongside No Time To Die star Ana de Armas.
He is also slated to appear in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves next March – a production that has been long in development, but is set to make headlines when it does hit the big screen.
Norton Leads List Of Bond Alternatives
Squeezed in between Hardy and Elba, James Norton is showing well at 11/2 with a number of betting apps.
Having just turned 37 in July, he fits into the age bracket that the Bond producers are looking for.
Like Page, he initially made his name through television. Only difference is, he has featured prominently in a multitude of shows, such as Happy Valley, Grantchester, War & Peace and McMafia.
He has also appeared in numerous films and most recently acted alongside former Bond girl Gemma Arterton in Rogue Agent as a real-life conman who tricked people into believing he was an MI5 operative.
Elsewhere, Jonathan Bailey is rated at 10/1 with Coral to usurp his ex-Bridgerton co-star into the role.
Richard Madden is seen as a long shot with odds on the Game of Thrones actor at 16/1, but given he is only 36, the Scotsman could well be a more viable option than those ahead of him in the market.