Ever since Daniel Craig announced that ‘No Time To Die’ would be his last James Bond film, there has been feverish speculation about his successor.
And no it seems that speculation is at an end - with Kick-Ass actor Aaron Taylor Johnson reportedly about to sign on the dotted line.
Now film fans are wondering who will take the reins from Cary Joji Fukunaga who directed Daniel Craig's last film as the iconic character in No Time To Die.
Since British director Terence Young took on the first two films in the series, Dr. No and From Russia With Love (he also returned for the fourth, Thunderball), there have been a total of 27 instalments in the moneyspinning franchaise.
John Glen has directed the most, with five entries spanning the Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton years, while Sam Mendes brought Oscar-winning gravitas to the more recent Skyfall and Spectre.
He's discounted directing another Bond, but a couple of other previous directors of the franchaise have yet to rule themselves out.
So, here are the 11 most likely candidates to take on the next 007 film.
5. Chad Stahelski
Former Matrix stuntman has established himself as one of the leading action film directors with the John Wick series of films starring Keanu Reeves as the despertate-to-retire hitman. He's also 6/1 to put his own unique spin on Bond - and you can bet it would be action-packed. | Getty Images for Lionsgate
6. Denis Villeneuve
Finally a free agent after spending years on the two Dune sci-fi films, Denis Villeneuve also successfully took on the Blade Runner franchaise. He's 9/1 to now turn his attention to 007. | Getty Images
7. Greta Gerwig
Currently the toast of Hollywood for writing and directing Barbie, Greta Gerwig has now been Oscar-nominated for her first three film (Lady Bird and Little Women being the other two). Could she the person to bring awards recognition to the Bond franchaise? She's 9/1 to take on one of the biggest jobs in cinema. | Getty Images
8. Christopher McQuarrie
With four Mission: Impossible film under his belt, Christopher McQuarrie is eminently qualified to take on Britain's most famous spy - Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt character in those films is essentially an American version of Bond. The Jack Reacher director is 10/1 to take on the job. | Getty Images for Paramount Pictu