The final screen tests to determine which actor will be cast as the next James Bond are reportedly underway, beginning on Friday, October 23.
Ever since Daniel Craig announced his decision to step down from the role, a who’s who of eligible actors have been floated for the coveted role.
Now, oddsmakers are revealing their picks for anyone who feels lucky enough to gamble on the identity of the actor to become the next 007.
Three Frontrunners
According to The Hollywood Reporter, producers for the next Bond film have narrowed down their search to three actors: Jack Lowdon (currently seen in Apple TV’s “Slow Horses”), Callum Turner (the recent films “One Night Only” and “Rosebush Pruning”) and Jack O’Connell (“28 Years Later,” “Sinners”).
Enter Oddschecker, described by The Hollywood Reporter as “a leading British betting-odds comparison platform that aggregates odds from established bookmakers.”
Oddschecker lists Lowdon as the most likely candidate to win the role, with odds of 8/13 (a 62 percent chance). Turner is listed in second place, with odds he’ll become Bond at just 25 percent. In third place is Josh O’Connor (“The Crown,” “Disclosure Day”) at 13 percent, followed by “Game of Thrones” alum Richard Madden (11 percent), “Frankenstein” star Jacob Elordi (7 percent) and then O’Connell (8 percent).
Another oddsmaking site, Kalshi, also has Lowden in the lead, with a 64 percent chance of landing the role. He’s followed by Turner (28 percent), O’Connor (19 percent), Idris Elba (9 percent), Jack Barton (8 percent) and Robert Pattinson (7 percent).
The Next Bond Girl
When it comes to the actress who’ll be co-starring in the upcoming film, BetOnline predicts that the next “Bond girl” will be Margaret Qualley (“The Substance”), with odds of 33 percent that she’ll win the role.
Qualley is followed by Sydney Sweeney (“Euphoria”) at 25 percent, tied with “Furiosa” star Anya Taylor-Joy, also at 25 percent.
They are followed by Florence Pugh (17 percent), Zendaya (13 percent), Lauren Sánchez (5 percent) and Kate Winslet (4 percent). Margot Robbie and Scarlett Johansson are among the actresses hovering at around 3 percent.
Meanwhile, Bond movies have become known for lavish theme songs performed by top musical artists. In that regard, the oddsmaking site lists singer Raye as being the most likely candidate to perform the song, with odds of 50 percent. Other artists with lesser odds of performing the theme include Olivia Dean, Dua Lipa, Sienna Spiro, Lana Del Rey, Oasis and Lady Gaga.
The as-yet-untitled Bond movie will be directed by Denis Villeneuve (“Dune”), with production scheduled to take place next year for a planned release sometime in 2028.
Oddsmakers Predict Who’ll Become the Next James Bond