Updated Odds to be Next James Bond – James Norton & Tom Hardy Co-Favorites

• The neverending search continues in casting the next James Bond
• Odds have shifted multiple times on this casting as it’s become Hollywood’s biggest hot ticket
• See below for updated odds for the bounty of stars’ chances as well as best bets

It’s almost impossible to believe the next James Bond still hasn’t been cast. This never-ending search actually began four years ago. Early names tossed around included favorites ranging from Idris Elba to Gillian Anderson. But no movement has been made to make anything official.

The final Daniel Craig Bond film No Time To Day was pushed back an entire year due to the Coronavirus pandemic. That film will now see an April 2021 release. This delay definitely helped buy Eon Productions and MGM some time in deciding who should be Craig’s successor.

But with April now just around the corner, the clock is ticking on this massive casting decision. For those curious, the options are many.

Odds for Who Will Be Cast as Next James Bond

Odds taken Nov. 3

Bets. Best Bets.

We’ve seen Idris Elba’s name in this race for years now, so it’s nice to see his name still sitting pretty amongst his colleagues in the odds. But does Idris have a great chance?

It seems Elba’s competition share just one thing he doesn’t have: their whiteness. A year ago, many were outcrying Elba’s consideration for the role as blasphemy. With 2020 providing a more woke vantage point post-George Floyd’s death and with Black Lives Matter actually actioning change across industries, Elba as Bond would perfectly signify positive change.

#JamesBond producers say the next 007 hasn't been cast yet — So who should it be? 🍸 pic.twitter.com/TEYuAWyUc6

— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) October 27, 2020

Yes, James Norton, Tom Hardy, and others all would make great James Bonds. But we’ve seen the cookie-cutter white Brit in a suit for decades now. People are demanding change and they deserve it.

For four years, Idris Elba’s name has been in consideration for this role. He deserves it. Not just because he’s Black, but because he’s a great actor.

Less Likely, But Still Exciting

With as many actors as there are in this race, certain names stick out more than others. Sure, it would be interesting to see someone like Christian Bale or even David Beckham play James Bond. But that won’t happen. The big names would cost too much and wouldn’t be as easy to blend into the Bond character seamlessly.

Dan Stevens may not be the most well-known, but that would make him a relatively blank canvas for Bond producers to work with. Similarly, other long shots such as Aidan Turner and Damian Lewis aren’t exactly household names either but both have the acting chops and swagger that Bond requires. For those with longer shots, Turner and Lewis are decent bets.

But what Stevens, Turner, and Lewis have in common is the same as the heavy-hitter A-listers who have even better odds than they do. If producers are going to for a lesser-known white dude, Sam Heughan (whose odds are great at +400) would be a more likely shot.

Regardless (and I’m going to drive this point home), Hollywood is at an extreme crossroads right now. People are stuck at home, and the few theaters that are open are struggling to fill socially distanced seats. If the studios know what’s good for them, they’ll take this chance to incite inclusion and diversity with change.

Pick: Idris Elba (+500)