As we reach August 2026, it’s now approaching seven years (and counting) since Daniel Craig hung up his tuxedo and gun holster following the hugely -successful last instalment of the money-spinning James Bond franchaise. No spoliers, but it was quite the ending.
We do at least know that there will certainly be a sequel to No Time To Die - directed by Dune filmmaker Denis Villeneuve and written by Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight.
But there’s still no news on the one of the biggest parts of the film - the actor who will take on the iconic role.
Whoever takes it on will become only the eighth actor to play 007 following Sean Connery (the best, obviously), David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig.
A couple of years ago it was reported that Kickass actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson had accepted the part but it turned out not to be the case.
His chances took a tumble when Barbara Broccoli and her half brother Michael G. Wilson, who have handpicked the Bond actors since the 1990s, signed over ‘full creative control’ to Amazon MGM Studios.
At movie-making trade show CinemaCon earlier this year Courtenay Valenti, Amazon MGM’s head of film, addressed the casting decision, explaining: “I know you’re all wondering when we’re going to announce who’s playing James Bond. Don’t get too excited. Please know that we’re taking the time to do this with care and deep respect. It is the dream of a lifetime for all of us to bring audiences this next chapter, and it’s a responsibility we don’t take lightly.”
Apparently auditions are still ongoing, but it’s thought that the casting announcement will be made before the end of the year - at the very latest.
Here are the 10 current leading 007 contenders and their chances of winning the part, according to the number crunchers at ActionNetwork.com who have tracked the odds across several leading bookmakers.
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5. Aaron Taylor-Johnson - 15 per cent chance
'Kick-Ass' star Aaron Taylor-Johnson seemed to be a cert for the role of the world's most famous spy back in 2024 - some newspapers even suggested he had accepted the part. He's still struggling to remain in the top fve most likely candidates, with his implied probability of becoming 007 dropping from nearly 100 per cent to just 15 per cent. | Getty Images
6. Jack Lowden - 12.77 per cent chance
Jack Lowden was an outside chance to become the next Bond until this year, and he's now the sixth most likely candidate, with a 12.77 per cent chance of bagging the dream role. Equally at home on the stage or on the screen, 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'. He'd be the first Scottish James Bond since Sean Connery (who was, obviously, also the best). | Getty Images
7. Jacob Elordi - 9.84 per cent
The favourite to be a non-British Bond is Jacob Elordi, who was Oscar nominated earlier this year for his role as at the monster in 'Frankenstein' - the Guillermo del Toro film that was shot in Scotland. He would certainly be a buzzy choice for Bond after shooting to fame in 'Saltburn' - and made another splash in director Emerald Fennell's followup 'Wuthering Heights'. There's an implied probability of 9.84 per cent of him becoming the second Australian James Bond after George Lazenby. | Getty Images
8. Leo Suter - 9.09 per cent chance
Leo Suter is one of three actors tied as the eighth most likely actor to play Bond, with implied probability of 9.09 per cent. His highest-profile performance to date is as Harald Sigurdsson in the Netflix series 'Vikings: Valhalla'. | Getty Images