Next James Bond Odds: Aaron Taylor-Johnson Favourite To Don The Tuxedo Next
Daire Walsh
It is becoming a somewhat protracted saga at this stage, but speculation continues to mount as to who will eventually take over from Daniel Craig in the iconic role of British spy James Bond.
Although it remains to be seen when the final decision of the franchise’s producers will be made and/or announced, betting sites are still offering odds on the most likely candidates for what is one of the most sought after gigs in the entire film industry.
A History Of Bond On The Silver Screen
The story of Bond so far on screen has been well-documented by this point, but is nonetheless worth recapping.
Back in 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.
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 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 Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli are thinking carefully before choosing the next actor to step into the Bond breach.
Taylor-Johnson Continues To Be Favourite For 007 Duties
Whereas some feel it would serve the franchise best to maintain the grittiness of Craig’s Bond, there are others who believe there could be scope for a return to a more suave 007 – akin to what Brosnan brought to the part in the late 90s/early noughties.
Whatever category Aaron Taylor-Johnson falls into is very much up for debate, but as was the case at the beginning of the year, the versatile star of Kick-Ass, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Bullet Train is the current favourite on specials betting sites to become the next James Bond.
Given he reportedly did a screen test as 007 at Pinewood Studios in London as far back as September of last year, it comes as little surprise that he is out in front in the race at the moment.
Broccoli is said to have been particularly impressed with Johnson according to an insider and while nothing is official just yet, Taylor-Johnson appears to hold the edge over his biggest challengers for the role.
At the moment, UK bookmakers are offering odds of 15/8 on Taylor-Johnson to replace his fellow Englishman when the franchise ultimately kicks back into life.
Cavill Still Features Highly In Bond Betting
It has been stated in recent times that the Bond producers are on the lookout for someone under the age of 40 who they are comfortable with tying down to a multi-picture deal.
Despite being in the industry for over 20 years, Taylor-Johnson doesn’t turn 33 until next month and therefore has youth on his side.
Having lost out to Craig for Casino Royale because the producers felt he was too young for the part, the opposite might be about to happen to Henry Cavill with the Jersey-born star having recently turned 40.
Yet that hasn’t stopped several bookies from offering some very enticing odds of 3/1 on him being the next man in possession of Bond’s famed tuxedo.
Aside from also having two decades worth of acting experience under his belt, he has already shown what he can do in the spy genre.
After starring as Napoleon Solo in Guy Ritchie’s film adaptation of The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Cavill has a support role in Mission Impossible – Fallout.
Whereas the former had a disappointing return at the box office, the latter made just shy of $800m to make it the most profitable film of that particular franchise thus far.
That is something that the Bond producers and a potential director might factor into the equation when it comes down to their final casting decision.
Norton Also In Contention For Spy Recognition
Meanwhile, 37-year-old actor James Norton – perhaps best known for his work on TV in Happy Valley, Grantchester, War & Peace and McMafia – continues to feature well in the prices with William Hill offering odds of 4/1 on the Londoner.
Last year saw him featuring alongside Gemma Arterton (who previously starred in Quantum of Solace, Craig’s second Bond film) in Rogue Agent as Robert Hendy-Freegard, a real-life conman who tricked and convinced several people that he was an MI5 agent.
When you consider this is essentially what all the actors that are up for the job are trying to do themselves, it could prove to be an ideal audition for playing Bond.
Page Also In The Running To Replace Craig
In spite of Taylor-Johnson, Cavill and Norton being amongst the main contenders for Bond – who is set to be employed by His Majesty’s Secret Service for the first time – the possibility of the role being played by a black actor remains a live one.
According to betting apps, Rege-Jean Page is the most likely to break the mould in this regard.
After coming to prominence in the first season of Netflix’s Bridgerton, Page has also been seen on the big screen more recently in The Gray Man and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
Even though his screen time in the latter was somewhat limited, he made the very most of his part as Xenk Yendar in a film that gained overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics and he’s 8/1 for the role of a lifetime.
Elsewhere, the odds on the ever-versatile Tom Hardy taking over from Craig as 007 are 9/1 with 10Bet.
Richard Madden and Jack Lowden are also featuring heavily, but remained outside options to take on the Bond mantle.
