As we enter the second half of April 2026 it has been well over six years (and counting) since Daniel Craig hung up his tuxedo and gun holster following the last instalment of the money-spinning James Bond franchaise.
There’s no doubt that there WILL be a sequel to Craig’s swansong performance in No Time To Die – we already know Dune filmmaker Denis Villeneuve is on board as director, while Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight has been hired to write the script.
Next up it’s a matter of finding the third part of the jigsaw – the actor who will take on the iconic role.
It will be a life-changing role for whoever takes it on and becomes only the eighth actor to play 007 following Sean Connery (the best, obviously), David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig.
There have been many different actors rumoured to be in the frame, led by Aaron Taylor-Johnson who had reportedly been offered the part (he clearly hadn’t).
All bets were off when Barbara Broccoli and her half brother Michael G. Wilson, who have handpicked the Bond actors since the 1990s, signed over ‘full creative control’ to Amazon MGM Studios.
And any hope that the casting would be announced imminently were scotched by executives as recent trade show CinemaCon.
Courtenay Valenti, Amazon MGM’s head of film, explained: “I know you’re all wondering when we’re going to announce who’s playing James Bond. Don’t get too excited. Please know that we’re taking the time to do this with care and deep respect. It is the dream of a lifetime for all of us to bring audiences this next chapter, and it’s a responsibility we don’t take lightly.”
She added: “What I can tell you is this: when you pair one of the most beloved franchises in history with a world-class film-making team, including the brilliant director Denis Villeneuve, extraordinary producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman, executive producer Tanya Lapointe and screenwriter Steven Knight, you’re setting the stage for something that’s truly worthy of the Bond legacy. That film is coming, and when the time is right, we’ll have much more to share.”
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1. Callum Turner – 1/1 (Evens)
‘Fantastic Beasts’ franchaise star Callum Turner had dropped down the field in February but has now been favourite for two months – priced at 1/1 to step into 007’s handmade shoes. His most recent major television role was as Major John Egan in ‘Masters of the Air’ and he’s recently been on the big screen in David Freyne’s latest film ‘Eternity’. His new film, ‘Rosebush Pruning’, sees him starring opposite Dua Lipa and premiered at the Berlin Film Festival – where he did little to dispel the 007 rumours. | Getty Images
2. Jacob Elordi – 7/4
Jacob Elordi became the favourite to be cast as Bond for the first time in March, with his odds slashed from 20/1. He’s now the 7/4 second favourite. He was recently Oscar nominated for his role as at the monster in ‘Frankenstein’ – the Guillermo del Toro film that was shot in Scotland. He would certainly be a buzzy choice for Bond after shooting to fame in ‘Saltburn’ – and is currently in cinemas in director Emerald Fennell’s followup ‘Wuthering Heights’. He’d be the second Australian James Bond after George Lazenby. Interesting his filming schedule looks oddly empty towards the end of the year… | Getty Images
3. Aaron Taylor-Johnson – 7/2
‘Kick-Ass’ star Aaron Taylor-Johnson seemed to be a cert for the role of the world’s most famous spy back in 2024 – some newspapers even suggested he had accepted the part. His odds have narrowed again slightly in the last couple of weeks, but he’s still now down to third favourite at 7/2. Maybe it’s the hair… | Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
4. Henry Ashton – 8/1
A new name in the frame for 007 is Henry Ashton. The English actor and former model is best known for his roles in Amazon Prime fantasy series ‘My Lady Jane’ and the BBC Three teen drama ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’. His odds have been slashed in the last week to 8/1. | Getty Images for HBO Max