As we reach the end of October 2026, it’s now more than seven years (and counting) since Daniel Craig hung up his tuxedo and handed back his gun following the hugely-successful last instalment of the James Bond franchaise.
We’ve know for certain that there WILL be sequel to No Time To Die which will be directed by Dune filmmaker Denis Villeneuve from a screenplay writter by Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight.
But we still don’t know who will take on the iconic role, becoming 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.
Way back in 2024 it was reported that Kickass actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson had accepted the part but it turned out not to be the case - and he appears to now be all-but out of the running.
Part of the reason for that is that Barbara Broccoli and her half brother Michael G. Wilson, who have handpicked the Bond actors since the 1990s and presumably were fans of Tayor-Johnson, signed over ‘full creative control’ to Amazon MGM Studios last year and no longer have any say in the casting decisions.
Auditions are reportedly still ongoing, but may now be reaching an end - with the final choice perhaps having already been made.
That certainly seem to be what Richard Osman thinks, after he said Jack Lowden would be the next Bond in his The Rest is Entertainment podcast, and the bookies would seem to agree.
Here are the 10 actors leading the charge to play Bond, with one now the clear favourite.
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9. Jacob Elordi - 14/1
The favourite to be a non-British Bond is Jacob Elordi, who was Oscar nominated earlier this year 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 made another splash in director Emerald Fennell's followup 'Wuthering Heights'. His odds seem to be lengthening by the day and now sit at 14/1. Could he now be out of the running? | Getty Images
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10. Paul Mescal - 16/1
Irish actor Paul Mescal shot to fame in television series 'Normal People' and his since become one of the most in-demand actors of his generation. He's set to star as Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes' four-part Beatles biopic and is hotly tipped to win the Best Actor Oscar at next year's Academy Awards for his performance in theatrical drama 'Elsinore'. He's maybe the actor on this list who least needs to play Bond, and is a 16/1 outsider. | AFP via Getty Images