Today marks 18 years since Daniel Craig was announced as the sixth actor to officially play James Bond.
The Layer Cake star had beaten an early Twenties Henry Cavill to the role after a series of screen tests, including a recreation of Sean Connery’s towel scene in From Russia with Love.
Yet it’s also now been over two years since Craig’s fifth and final Bond movie No Time To Die hit cinemas and fans are still awaiting an official announcement of his replacement.
Given the on-going Hollywood actor’s strike, and considering it took three years after Pierce Brosnan’s Die Another Day for the outgoing star to be announced, our best bet for official casting of the new 007 would be sometime in 2024 for a 2025 release.
Rumours abound of talks with Christopher Nolan, who reportedly wants a proper 1950s Ian Fleming book adaptation reboot of the franchise, and there are four major contenders for the lead role according to the bookies.
According to Oddschecker, as it stands Aaron Taylor-Johnson is the favourite to be the next Bond with odds of 11-4.
The 33-year-old has played it coy in interviews following rumours that he impressed Barbara Broccoli in a secret audition.
And given that Nolan has directed him before in Tenet, we wouldn’t be surprised if he was in serious contention.
Just behind Taylor-Johnson on 5-1 is James Norton, who famously walked through a casino in black tie in the opening of BBC’s McMafia.
Meanwhile, rising star Damson Idris is on 11-2, alongside Casino Royale runner-up Henry Cavill himself.
The latter plays a James Bond-esque spy in the upcoming Argylle, directed by Kingsman’s Matthew Vaughn.
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