Nearly four years since Daniel Craig starred in the last James Bond No Time To Die, it seems we’ll soon finally know who his successor will be.
We now have a director for Bond 26 in the shape of Canadian Dune filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, and a writer - Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight.
Now we just need a star to play the world’s most famous spy - a process that was thrown into turmoil 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 seemed at one point that Aaron Taylor-Johnson was a done deal for the role, but since then a number of actors have become favourites, only to drop away again.
And this week it’s simply become too close to call, just as it seems likely an announcement will be made imminently.
Here are the latest 14 actors with the best chance of enjoying their martinis shaken not stirred according to the bookies - with three in particular now leading the charge.
9. Aaron Pierre - 25/1
An actor who wasn't even in the frame a couple of months ago, but who became one of the favourites to play 007, only to see his odds slide in recent weeks is Aaron Pierre. The English actor found fame in television scifi 'Krypton' and has gone on to star in films such as 'Old', 'Rebel Ridge' and 'Mufasa: The Lion King'. He's now priced at 25/1, having been as low as 5/1. | | Kate Green/Getty Images for The
10. James Norton - 25/1
An actor who has been long been tipped to play Bond is James Norton, but his odds have drifted out to 25/1 in recent weeks and are stubbornly refusing to narrow. The 'Happy Valley' and 'Grantchester' actor certainly looked comfortable in a tux in the BBC's 'McMafia series'. | Getty Images For SOLT
11. Sam C. Wilson - 25/1
Also a 25/1 shot is 'House of the Dragon' actor Sam C. Wilson. He's also appeared on the big screen in 'Dodger', 'Deep Cover' and Blade Runner. If the casting directors are looking to cast a relative unknown then he could be their man. | Contributed
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12. Paddy Gibson - 33/1
Irish actor Paddy Gibson is also yet to find global fame. Technically, he's already played the British superspy - in computer game '007 First Light', which will be out next year. He's also starred as a young Dexter Morgan in the serial killer prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin'. At one point he was the 15/8 for Bond, but he's since dropped down to 33/1 - which means he's still just about in contention. | AFP via Getty Images