It’s been nearly four years since the last James Bond film, with Daniel Craig starring No Time To Die.
The Bond-drought is coming to an end though, with confirmation in recent weeks that the 26th instalment of the spy series will be directed by Canadian Dune filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, written by Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight, and produced by Amy Pascal and David Heyman.
But there’s still no sign of who will play the title character - with further doubt cast on the recuitment process after Barbara Broccoli and her half brother Michael G. Wilson, who have effectively previously handpicked the Bond actors since the 1990s, signed over ‘full creative control’ to Amazon MGM Studios.
It had previously been reported that Aaron Taylor-Johnson had been offered the part, but that now seems unlikely - and a number of actors have been tipped over the course of this year.
And this week a new favourite has emerged, just as it seems likely an announcement will be made imminently.
Here are the latest 13 actors with the best chance of enjoying their martinis shaken not stirred - according to the bookies.
5. Theo James - 8/1
A relatively recent tip to play 007, Divergent series star Theo James' name hadn't been mentioned until a few months ago. He's been as high as third favourite, but his odds have drifted out to 8/1. Recently in cinemas starring in horror film 'The Monkey', he's drifted out in recent months though, having been as lowly priced as 2/1 at one point. Critically acclaimed for his performance in the television series 'The White Lotu's, he also recently played the lead role in Guy Ritchie's action comedy series 'The Gentlemen'. | Getty Images for Netflix
6. Jack Lowden - 9/1
Equally at home on the stage or on the screen, Scot Jack Lowden first found fame in 2016 BBC miniseries of 'War & Peace' and has since starred in the likes of 'Dunkirk' and 'Mary Queen of Scots'. He's reached his biggest audience to date starring opposite Gary Oldman in acclaimed spy drama 'Slow Horses' and is set to play Mr. Darcy in Netflix's upcoming adaptation of Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice'. He's priced at 9/1 to be the first Scottish James Bond since Sean Connery. | AFP via Getty Images
7. Harris Dickinson - 10/1
Recently starring alongside Nicole Kidman in an eye-opening role in 'Babygirl', Harris Dickinson is in the frame to play both Doctor Who and James Bond. It's only seven years since his first starring role in 'Beach Rats', but he's since barely put a foot wrong, playing John Paul Getty III in the FX drama series 'Trust', then bagging major roles in a string of big films including 'The King's Man', 'Triangle of Sadness', 'Where the Crawdads Sing', and 'The Iron Claw'. He's seen his Bond odds tumble in recent weeks and is now 10/1 for the role. | Getty Images for BAFTA
8. Tom Holland - 12/1
Another actor not even in the conversation when it came to the next Bond but who is now one of the favourites is Tom Holland - with odds of 12/1. His casting would make perfect sense if the film was to look at the early life of the superspy - but would Holland have time between playing the lead in the Spider-Man films? He's currently filming the latest one in Glasgow. | Getty Images for Critics Choice