The James Bond franchise has been one of the most influential and consistent film franchises that continues to be evergreen. However, since 2021’s No Time to Die, which served as Daniel Craig’s swansong as Agent 007, one of the most coveted roles has been vacant for well over three years.
Fans have often debated who should be the next James Bond, with Tom Hardy being a fan favorite. A new report provides a clear frontrunner and a new entrant to the race. Moreover, the new face could break a peculiar franchise record if they were to be cast in Bond 26. Here are what the latest bookies’ odds reveal about the future of James Bond.
Bookies’ Odds Reveal New Face in the James Bond Race
Daniel Craig‘s tenure as James Bond ended in 2021 with No Time to Die. Since then, the hunt for the next actor to play iconic super spy has been on with actors such as Henry Cavill, Idris Elba, and Tom Hardy being the fan-favorites in the race.
The topic is also of particular interest to bookies who have often made odds to mark which actor could be the frontrunner in the race to play Bond. According to a new report, neither Cavill nor Hardy is the favorite to play Agent 007 in the upcoming Bond 26, as per bookies’ odds.
Kick-Ass star Aaron Taylor-Johnson is currently the frontrunner with odds of 13/8. However, the report also reveals that English actor Leo Woodall is now in contention to play the role. Woodall recently gave his breakthrough performance as Dexter Mayhew in the 2024 Netflix series One Day.
Thanks to the role, Woodall has entered the Bond race with odds of 16/1 and a 5.8% chance of being cast in the role. As a result, Woodall is considered the joint 16th favorite for the role, tying with Kingsley Ben-Adir and Idris Elba for the spot. Henry Cavill (5/2) and Tom Hardy (5/1) also remain in the race, slightly behind Taylor-Johnson.
Leo Woodall Could Break a James Bond Record Daniel Craig Couldn’t
Leo Woodall is a fresh face with a lot of raw potential for the role of James Bond. Woodall has appeared in projects such as Vampire Academy, The White Lotus, and Citadel, giving him some bonafide acting experience that can make a strong case for the Bond role. However, the strongest aspect favoring Woodall is his age.
Woodall is currently 27 years old and doesn’t turn 28 until later this year. As a result, if he were to be cast as Bond, he could break the record for being the youngest Bond actor ever. Currently, George Lazenby holds the record for being the youngest Bond actor, as he was 29 years old in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
The most recent Bond actor, Daniel Craig, debuted in the role at 38, and his run ended aged 51. Thus, the producers could seek a younger actor for the role, and Woodall would certainly fit the bill. A younger actor could be the key to revitalizing and refreshing the character for a newer audience.
Moreover, Woodall would also become the youngest actor to play the iconic role if he were to be cast in the next two years. However, producer Barbara Broccoli gave a disappointing update regarding the new Bond film as she implied the studio was in no hurry to cast the next James Bond actor. Hence, only time will tell if Woodall lands the part.
No Time to Die is streaming on MGM+.
