It’s been over a year and a half since the last 007 movie was released and Daniel Craig blew his take on Ian Fleming’s spy into oblivion.
Nevertheless, the credits concluded with a promise that James Bond will indeed return.
This will be a total reboot set in another world to that of the outgoing star, with a new actor in the much-coveted role.
It’s been 18 years since the last set of auditions when Craig beat Henry Cavill to star in Casino Royale.
And now the latest odds have an actor leading the pack of hopefuls who is rumoured to have had a secret audition that impressed producer Barbara Broccoli.
READ MORE: Next James Bond hopeful ‘turned down’ 007 role but now ‘is ready’
The actor in question is 33-year-old Aaron Taylor-Johnson, star of Kick-Ass, Bullet Train, Avengers: Age of Ultron and the upcoming Kraven the Hunter.
According to The Sun, sources previously said: “Aaron went for a screen test to be the next Bond in September and producers and Barbara [Broccoli] loved him. He is now one of the front-runners… Aaron has impressed bosses so much that he has filmed one of the franchise’s famous gun barrel teaser scenes, something all the Bond actors do.
“That move takes him a step closer to signing a deal. Bosses at the brand were really impressed with his unique blend of acting intensity and his impressive back catalogue of action films.”
Taylor-Johnson, who has odds of 15-8 with Coral Bookmakers, previously told Vanity Fair he finds all the buzz “flattering” but certainly didn’t confirm or deny the rumours that he was in the running.
Meanwhile, not far behind him in the next Bond odds are James Norton on 5-2, Henry Cavill on 3-1 and both Tom Hardy and Richard Madden on 7-1.
Additionally, Regé-Jean Page is on 8-1, Jack Lowden on 10-1, Idris Elba on 14-1, both Callum Turner and Sope Dirisu on 16-1, plus both Aidan Turner and Lucien Laviscount on 20-1.
