It has been over three years since the release of Daniel Craig’s final outing as James Bond in ‘No Time To Die’ - with the actor confirming that he was hanging up his tux.
Since then there has been no letup in the speculation over who will succeed him in one of the world’s biggest film franchaises, following in the footsteps of Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, and Pierce Brosnan - as well as Craig himself.
In early 2024 it seemed to all be over, with Kickass star Aaron Taylor-Johnson hving reportedly accepted the role of a lifetime.
But since then all has gone quiet and it seems like the job is stiill up for grabs, with a new name leading the bookies odds for the first time in nearly a year.
5. Aaron Pierre - 7/1
There had previously been much talk of Idris Elba being the next James Bond, but that now seems increasingly unlikely, with his odds now lengthening. Aaron Pierre has been slowly climbing the rankings though, and is now the favourite to be the first black Bond, with odds of 7/1. Perhaps the least high profile of the leading contenders, he's starred in science fiction series Krypton, period drama miniseries The Underground Railroad and films Old and Rebel Ridge. | Getty Images
6. Cillian Murphy - 7/1
Could Cillian Murphy become the second Oscar winning actor to play Bond (after Sean Connery)? He's a 7/1 shot to do so with the bookies. He has also played a major part in making Peaky Blinders one of the most talked about television series of recent years and is no stranger to blockbusters generally, having starred in everything from The Dark Knight Trilogy to A Quiet Place Part II. | Getty Images
7. James Norton - 7/1
Another actor who has been tipped to play Bond is James Norton, but his odds have drifted out to 17/1 in recent months. The Happy Valley and Grantchester actor certainly looked comfortable in a tux in the BBC's McMafia series. | Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images f
8. Callum Turner - 7/1
Callum Turner is a 7/1 shot to follow up his supporting part in the Fantastic Beasts franchise with a lead role in one of the world's most famous film series. He recently played as John 'Bucky' Egan in the miniseries Masters of the Air. | Getty Images