Updated Odds to Play James Bond: Aaron Taylor-Johnson Emerges as Favorite

• Rumors continue to swirl regarding who will be the new James Bond after Daniel Craig
• Aaron Taylor-Johnson is heavily expected to take up the Bond mantle
• Who do the updated odds favor portraying 007 next?

Since Daniel Craig’s emotional swan song as James Bond in 2021’s critically-acclaimed No Time to Die, rumors have run rampant as to who will play the renowned role next.

Several notable names were in the running at the time of our last update six months ago with Regé-Jean Page being the most likely candidate. However, three established stars have emerged as the new odds-on favorites to portray the celebrated character instead.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson could very well be following in if recent rumors are to be believed, though both Henry Cavill and James Norton are credible contenders as well according to the latest odds.

Next James Bond Odds 2023

All odds as of Feb. 28. Browse the top online betting sites.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson Now Favored to Portray 007 Next

At +150, all signs point to Aaron Taylor-Johnson taking up the mantle of 007 in the next feature film.

Per Puck News (h/t Culture Crave on Twitter), Johnson met with producers at the onset of the year about portraying the role previously occupied by Daniel Craig for 15 years. The meeting reportedly “went well,” leading 007 fans to believe it’s all but official he’ll be named the new Bond before long.

Johnson wasn’t in the original running for the role until this news broke, but he’s as perfect of a fit for Bond as anyone. He certainly looks the part and has his entire career ahead of him at just 32 years old.

Johnson danced around the rumors during a Vanity Fair interview earlier this month and commented that an actor should “want to stay in your lane,” but he’s far and away the best bet as of now.

Henry Cavill a Strong Second Choice

Henry Cavill was merely an underdog in the odds for the next 007 back in August. At the time, he was busy with The Witcher and was in talks to reprise his role as Superman in the DC Cinematic Universe.

It wasn’t long after that he departed the cast of The Witcher and had his return to the cape of Clark Kent canceled, suddenly freeing up his schedule for other projects. According to Express.co.uk, he reportedly auditioned for the famed role in 2005 but lost out to Craig, later revealing he “didn’t know how to train or diet properly” at the time.

Of course, Cavill overcame that obstacle during his run as Superman on the silver screen, so a stint at 007 would be right up his alley. As the main challenger to Johnson (trailing at +250 in the odds) and a safe second choice, he shouldn’t be completely counted out, either.

James Norton, Tom Hardy, and Chiwetel Ejiofor Among Intriguing Longshots

Beyond Taylor-Johnson and Cavill, multiple other candidates also have reasonable odds to replace Craig as 007.

Page’s not-too-drastic drop in the odds in the odds from +200 to +600 keeps him in the conversation, but James Norton is seemingly a stronger choice at +300 after previously appearing in the odds at +1300. The English actor is best known for his roles in Happy Valley and Grantchester, but 007 would undoubtedly be his biggest to date.

After receiving a Bafta nomination for Best Supporting Actor following the finale of the show earlier this month, he’s fresh in the minds of many and has a background befitting of the iconic agent.

Tom Hardy’s odds increased as well from +1800 to +1000.  Similar to Taylor-Johnson, he too was said to have met with Bond bosses at one point and immediately became a favorite among fans. Nothing concrete has come out about said meeting, and the biggest factor that may disqualify him from landing the role would be that he’s already 45 (assuming the next Bond will be long-term like his predecessors).

Joining Hardy at +1000 is Chiwetel Ejiofor, an improvement from +1600. He recently returned in the MCU as Mordo and had a starring role in 2022’s The Man Who Fell to Earth, but becoming Bond would be a significant step up for him and 007 actor Naomie Harris already gave him her seal of approval.

Regardless of who is next in line to portray 007, they’ll have big shoes to fill with Craig bringing so much to the character along with Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Bronson Pierce before him.