A new British actor with seriously A-list connections has now been tipped as the favourite to play James Bond after years of swirling 007 rumours.
Famous faces like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James, Idris Elba, James Norton and Line of Duty star Martin Compston are all still in the mix to play the MI6 agent.
However, one name has pushed ahead as the first choice to step into Bond’s shoes since Daniel Craig’s departure in 2021 with No Time To Die.
Callum Turner, who is engaged to Dua Lipa, is the new “red hot” favourite to take on the coveted role, according to Coral bookmakers.
The Fantastic Beasts star has been a contender for some time but his latest role as Elizabeth Olsen’s love interest in the romantic-comedy Eternity has given him the edge.
After a huge boost in betting over the last 24 actors, Turner’s odds have been slashed from 5-2 to 7-4 to take on the Bond role.
“We’ve been knocked over with support for Callum Turner in our next James Bond betting over the last 24 hours,” Coral’s John Hill said.
“The British actor is now the red-hot favourite for the role.”
Taylor-Johnson and White Lotus star James are second in line at 3-1, while Henry Cavill is at 6-1.
Other names in the mix are Anthony Boyle at 10-1, with 12-1 for Harris Dickinson, 16-1 for Jack Lowden, and 16-1 on James Norton.
The upcoming James Bond movie will be written by British screenwriter Steven Knight, who wrote the popular television series Peaky Blinders, according to Amazon MGM Studios.
The most recent installment in the series will be directed by Oscar-nominated Denis Villeneuve, known for Dune and Arrival.
Producers David Heyman, who produced all eight Harry Potter films, and Amy Pascal, who produced the Spider-Man franchise, will also be involved.
Earlier this year, Amazon struck a landmark deal with longtime Bond stewards Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson to take full control of the character and its related IP.
While casting is still thought to be underway, Villeneuve’s appointment may suggest that steps are finally being taken to move the production forward.
Last month, George Mackay addressed long-running speculation that he could be a potential successor for Craig.
The British actor, 33, has regularly appeared on bookmakers’ lists of contenders for the iconic role, with The Guardian describing him as having “that look that mixes vague meanness with woolly competence” and “a spoonful of the eccentric enigmatic”.
While earlier this year, Bond commentator and author Mark O’Connell also branded him an “interesting” choice who is “going places” when speaking to PageSix about who could follow in Craig’s shoes.
It also helps that he starred opposite a Bond girl, Léa Seydoux, in 2023’s The Beast.
When asked about whether he would be interested in the role at the BFI London Film Festival premiere of his new film & Sons, MacKay couldn’t help but smile.
“I mean, like, come on. Like, Bonds? Yeah, sure,” he laughed. Pressed on whether he had been approached, he replied: “I couldn't say… No, I'm not going to be drawn further than that.
“But hey, it's nice to be in the mix, y’know? And what a role? Like Denis Villenueve, he's top of the game. So yeah, of course.”
