With almost two and a half years having passed since the last James Bond film hit cinemas, fans continue to speculate over who will replace Daniel Craig as 007.
The outgoing star exited the franchise explosively at the end of No Time To Die, killing off the character for the first time ever.
Whoever replaces him in what will be a total reboot has a hard act to follow after Craig’s record 15 years in the role from 2006 to 2021.
Henry Cavill was famously the runner-up in the last round of Bond auditions for Casino Royale 18 years ago and he continues to be a fan favourite for the next Bond.
Now as the 40-year-old stars in two spy movies this year, Argylle and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, his odds of taking up the Licence to Kill next have been sliced.
Take it all with a grain of salt but Cavill’s odds are now 3-1 to be the next Bond, in second place by Aaron Taylor-Johnson on 2-1.
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: “Barry Keoghan may well be the name on every Bond bettor’s lips right now, but he’s still some way off the frontrunners to replace Daniel Craig, with attention now turning to Henry Cavill, who has today seen his odds trimmed to just 3/1. That puts him hot on the heels of long-time favourite Aaron Taylor-Johnson, but with no less than eight names currently priced at 10/1 or shorter, this is possibly the closest it’s ever been in the 007 betting.”
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: “Barry Keoghan may well be the name on every Bond bettor’s lips right now, but he’s still some way off the frontrunners to replace Daniel Craig, with attention now turning to Henry Cavill, who has today seen his odds trimmed to just 3/1.”
He added: “That puts him hot on the heels of long-time favourite Aaron Taylor-Johnson, but with no less than eight names currently priced at 10/1 or shorter, this possibly the closest it’s ever been in the 007 betting.”
The Superman star has been very open about how he’d love to sit down with EON Productions and talk about the Bond role, but producer Michael G Wilson did say last year that they’re looking for a star in his thirties which would presumably rule out the actor.
Other contenders in the bookies race are as follows, James Norton on 4-1, Damson Idris on 5/1, Regé-Jean Page on 7/1, Sope Dirisu on 9/1 and both Tom Hardy and Barry Keoghan on 10/1.