Bookmakers have issued surprise new odds for the next James Bond as speculation over who will replace Daniel Craig reaches fever point.
Last week, Henry Cavill was revealed to be a new favourite, with his odds slashed to 3/1, helping to close the gap with longtime frontrunner Aaron Taylor-Johnson whose odds stood at 8/11.
Now, Coral have slashed the odds of Fantastic Beasts star Callum Turner, following a rush of support over the weekend.
‘Callum Turner has been extremely popular in our James Bond betting over the weekend, forcing us to slash his odds to replace Daniel Craig,’ said Coral’s John Hill.
‘With Turner being backed, and Dua Lipa odds-on to play the soundtrack for the next Bond movie, the power couple could be the future of the franchise.’
Dua, who announced her engagement to Callum over the summer, has been backed for years to be the next star to sing the theme tune, following in the footsteps of Billie Eilish and Adele.
Bookmakers have issued surprise new odds for the next James Bond as speculation over who will replace Daniel Craig reaches fever point
Bookies have slashed the odds of Callum Turner to become the next 007 following a rush of support over the weekend, with his fiancée Dua Lipa tipped to sing the theme song (pictured in May)
It it wouldn’t be the first time a relationship occurred on the set of the spy thrillers Sean Connery famously enjoyed a fling with Bond girl Lana Wood when they starred in 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever
As it stands, Coral back Aaron as the favourite 007 with odds still at 8/11, followed by Callum at 7/2 then Henry and Theo James in joint third spot at 8/1.
The likes of Harris Dickinson, Tom Holland and Jacob Elordi are also all still in the running.
If Callum and Dua land the coveted gigs on the next Bond film, it wouldn’t be the first time a relationship occurred on the set of the spy thrillers.
Sean Connery famously enjoyed a fling with Bond girl Lana Wood when they starred together in 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever.
He was also linked to fellow Bond girl, Jill St. John.
As speculation over who will take over the 007 role continues, old footage of Superman star Henry trying out for the last Bond gig has gone viral.
In the old tape, the actor did his best to impress the production team as he delivered some of the character’s most famous lines in a bid to beat around eight other stars.
The DC star, then 22, cut a laidback figure in a leather jacket and with his dark brown locks slicked back as he stared into the distance and said, ‘Bond, James Bond’, before ordering a ‘vodka martini shaken not stirred’.
As it stands, Coral back Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the favourite 007 with odds still at 8/11
Callum sit in second place with odds of 7/2 while Henry Cavill (left) and Theo James are in joint third spot at 8/1
WHO WILL BE THE NEXT JAMES BOND?
8-11 Aaron Taylor-Johnson
3-1 Callum Turner
7-2 Henry Cavill
8-1 Theo James
8-1 Harris Dickinson
10-1 Jack Lowden
10-1 Tom Holland
20-1 Jacob Elordi
20-1 James Norton
20-1 Sam C. Wilson
20-1 Jonathan Bailey
20-1 Scott Rose-Marsh
Odds via Coral Bookmakers
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Henry channelled his inner Pierce Brosnan as he reprised the Irish star’s performance as the spy in GoldenEye but it was not quite enough to land him the coveted role.
He ended up losing out to Daniel Craig, who went on to play James in five instalments, bowing out in the 2021 thriller No Time To Die.
Yet Henry has gone on to have a glittering career, starring as Charles Brandon in The Tudors and Sherlock Holmes as Enola Holmes in a long list of critically-acclaimed appearances.
GoldenEye and Casino Royale director Martin Campbell, who was behind the impressive screen test, told the Express that Henry had come close to becoming Bond but his age had been a problem.
He said: ‘He looked great in the audition. His acting was tremendous. And look, if Daniel didn’t exist Henry would have made an excellent Bond.
‘He looked terrific, he was in great physical shape… very handsome, very chiselled. He just looked a little young at that time back then.’
Elsewhere, Aaron further fuelled rumours he could be the next James Bond after responding cryptically to a question about his upcoming projects.
At the world premiere of 28 Years Later in London in June, a Deadline reporter asked the Kick-Ass actor: ‘What are you doing next?’
He replied, ‘I can’t talk about it’, as he was pulled away by his entourage.
Footage of Henry s ‘tremendous’ audition for the role of James Bond resurfaced 20 years after he very narrowly missed out on playing the iconic character
Some saw the curt response as a hint that his next project could be the 007 franchise.
In May, Aaron appeared to hint that he could be the next superstar to don the iconic tux after signing a deal with the film’s watch provider, Omega.
Prior to Amazon’s purchase of the Bond franchise, it was rumoured that Aaron was former Bond producer Barbara Broccoli’s ideal candidate to take over the reins from Craig.
But he slightly dropped down the lists after playing it cool when asked about the possibility of him starring in the next movie.
‘It’s not really for me to say anything,’ he told Esquire when quizzed about speculation.