Major Hollywood star emerges as shock favourite for huge James Bond role amid speculation over who will be the next 007 after Amazon’s takeover

An unexpected front-runner has surfaced, with betting odds making them the top choice to portray the antagonist in the eagerly awaited new James Bond movie.

007 enthusiasts have been eagerly anticipating the release date of the upcoming James Bond movie, following Daniel Craig’s conclusion of his five-film tenure as the British agent in “No Time to Die.

As a devoted fan, I’d like to share that the 2021 film marked the final production under the guidance of 30-year Bond producer, Barbara Broccoli, and her brother Michael G. Wilson. This decision came about after Amazon assumed creative control over the cherished franchise.

The new Bond film is reportedly being rapidly advanced by the company. Hollywood producers David Heyman and Amy Pascal have been brought on board to usher in a fresh era for the franchise.

In recent weeks, there’s been a lot of buzz and guesswork surrounding the possible actors for the upcoming film, even though no formal announcements have been given yet.

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It has been suggested that Aaron-Taylor Johnson and Henry Cavill are potential candidates for the part, with Theo James recently becoming the top pick among betting odds.

Presently, gambling firms have unveiled their predictions regarding the upcoming antagonist, and surprisingly, a familiar face from our homes is leading the pack in probability.

Among all contenders, it’s none other than the talented actor Cillian Murphy, age 49 and renowned for his role in Peaky Blinders, who leads OLBG’s predictions with odds of 9/2.

Previously, it was rumored that the Irish actor, well-recognized as Thomas Shelby, could take on the role of James Bond. However, he dismissed these whispers, stating to Deadline: “I believe I might be a bit too old for that part.

Additionally, contending for the role are Paul Giamatti, an American actor (11/2), David Dastmalchian, famously known for his work in “The Boogeyman” (13/2), and the surprising candidate Zendaya (7/1).

Or:

Paul Giamatti, a well-known American actor (11/2), along with David Dastmalchian of “The Boogeyman” fame (13/2) and the unexpected nominee Zendaya (7/1), are all vying for the part.

In contrast to her past roles where she often portrayed the virtuous character, the female actress expressed to Elle in 2023 that she is now prepared to embark on a new phase in her career, taking on more villainous roles.

‘I would love to play a villain of sorts,’ the 28-year-old said. 

Channel your inner dark, villainous feelings. This doesn’t have to be in terms of a traditional superhero narrative; rather, I’m referring to emotions in a more figurative sense.

‘I feel like I usually play the good guy, so I’d like to play the bad guy.’

Cillian Murphy continues to be the leading contender for the part, as Betting Expert Jake Ashton also supports him for the role.

‘The villain role in the Bond movies is just as iconic as Bond himself,’ he said.

At the peak of his acting abilities and enjoying the trust of prominent filmmakers, Cillian Murphy is a clear front-runner.

In the movie “No Time To Die,” renowned Academy Award-winner Rami Malek took on the main role of the villain, Lyutsifer Safin, who was both the head of a terrorist organization and a scientist. His motivation was to destroy the powerful criminal entity known as SPECTRE.

Previously, Christoph Waltz appeared as the main adversary in Spectre, while Javier Bardem portrayed Raoul Silva, a formidable villain in Skyfall, who ranks among the most memorable Bond antagonists.

Ever since Daniel Craig’s James Bond breathed his last at the finale of No Time To Die, I’ve been eagerly pondering: How might the opening scene unfold in the subsequent movie?

As The Daily Mail reported, the plan is for the new Bond to be a ‘straight up’ reboot.

It seems there’ll be no clarification on why the character survives, no exploration of multiple Bond universes, and no journey to revisit the ’60s for a classic Bond experience.

It had been speculated that Barbara Broccoli considered Aaron Taylor-Johnson as her pick for Bond, a role he was previously favored for, but it seems Heyman and Pascal may prefer selecting their own 007 instead.

At the moment, Theo James is the preferred choice for the role, with odds of 3/1, surpassing Cavill (also at 3/1), Taylor-Johnson (with odds of 7/2), and Jack Lowden (who has odds of 12/1) from Mary Queen of Scots.

In both “The White Lotus” and “Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen,” Theo has left a strong impression through his portrayal of morally gray characters, much like James Bond, albeit with a unique twist.

Previously, Theo was among the top contenders for the position a few years back; however, his chances took a hit following an interview he gave to The Guardian in 2024.

He shared with the media: “Many people are eager to take on the role of Bond due to its significance in British cultural history, yet I personally would not fit that mold.

As a lifestyle expert, I must confess that I believe there are more qualified individuals for this position. To put it candidly, it would be quite daunting… Essentially, you’d be stirring up a hornet’s nest or even better, awakening Pandora herself.

At present, it’s rumored that top executives at Amazon are contemplating potential cities where they might establish their upcoming movie project, a highly anticipated release speculated to hit theaters towards the end of 2023 or in 2027.

Next year, it appears that Central London’s filming restrictions might lead producers to explore alternative shooting spots. Reports suggest that Liverpool could potentially be the preferred choice, as indicated by The Sun.

According to a source within the organization, this decision might rub traditional Bond fans the wrong way as they worry about potential significant alterations to the James Bond franchise if Amazon takes control, which they believe could happen.

‘But Liverpool is a well-known alternative to London for film-makers.

It can be found in various productions such as The Batman, Captain America, and Harry Potter films, often serving as stand-ins for multiple global cities.

As a devoted admirer, I must clarify that while the narrative may not strictly take place in Liverpool, keen-eyed locals from this vibrant city might just recognize its center in the backdrop.

Amazon was reached out to for a comment regarding speculation that Liverpool could serve as the location for the upcoming James Bond film.

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2025-06-13 21:49