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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9. Dónal Finn - 9.09 per cent chance
Dónal Finn also has a 9.09 per cent chance of stepping into the superspy's shoes. Finn recently won a new army of fans thanks to his role in BBC hit show 'The Other Bennet Sister', having previously starred in Amazon Prime series 'The Wheel of Time' and 'Young Sherlock'. | Getty Images for BritBox
10. Arty Froushan - 9.09 per cent chance
Completing our list is Arty Frousham, the third actor with a 9.09 per cent chance of being Bond. He's a highly-rated stage actor who has appeared in Amazon Prime series 'Carnival Row' and Disney+ series 'Daredevil: Born Again', as well as films including 'Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale'. | Getty Images