As we enter July 2026, it’s been well over six-and-a-half years (and counting) since Daniel Craig hung up his tuxedo and drank his last vodka martini, following the last instalment of the money-spinning James Bond franchaise.
Film fans know there WILL be a sequel to Craig’s swansong performance in No Time To Die - with Dune filmmaker Denis Villeneuve on board to direct a film to be written by Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight.
But we have still to discover the third main part of the cinematic jigsaw - the actor who will take on the iconic role - at the same time as Britain is also looking for a new Prime Minister and Doctor Who.
It will be a life-changing role for whoever becomes 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.
There have been many different actors rumoured to be in the frame over the Bond-less years, led by Aaron Taylor-Johnson who had reportedly been offered the part (he clearly hadn’t).
All bets were off 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.”
Auditions have reportedly been taking place over recent weeks so an announcement could now only be weeks - or even days - away.
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1. Callum Turner - 1/1 (Evens)
'Fantastic Beasts' franchaise star Callum Turner had dropped down the field but has now rallied and, following his recent marriage to pop star Dua Lipa, is back to being the clear favourite to step into 007's handmade shoes. His odds have now been cut to evens. His most recent major television role was as Major John Egan in 'Masters of the Air' and he's recently been on the big screen in David Freyne's latest film 'Eternity'. His new film, 'Rosebush Pruning', sees him starring opposite his new wife and premiered at the Berlin Film Festival - where he did little to dispel the 007 rumours. Don't bet against Dua Lipa also bagging the prestigious Bond theme gig too. | Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images
2. Louis Partridge - 3/1
If producers are looking for a less well-known name to play Bond (as most of the previous superspies have been) then Louis Partridge would be a great shout. He's currently best known for his roles in the 'Enola Holmes' Netflix film franchaise and hit television show 'The House of Guiness'. He's now the 3/1 second favourite to play 007. | Getty Images for Netflix
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3. Harris Dickinson - 6/1
Harris Dickinson has had a string of acclaimed film roles in his short career to date, including 'Baby Girl', 'The King's Man', 'Triangle of Sadness', 'Where the Crawdads Sing', and 'The Iron Claw'. His directorial debut 'Urchin' premiered at the 2025 London Film Festival. His odds had been slashed at the start of the year but he's now drifted out slightly to 6/1. He's going to be pretty busy playing John Lennon in director Sam Mendes's four-film cinematic project about The Beatles, so he may not have time. | Getty Images
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4. Aaron Taylor-Johnson - 6/1
'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. His odds have narrowed again slightly in the last couple of months, but he's still out at a relatively long 6/1. | Getty Images