As we enter the second half of March 2026 it has been well over six years (and counting) - since Daniel Craig hung up his tux following the last instalment of the money-spinning James Bond franchaise.
There’s no doubt that there WILL be a sequel to Craig’s swansong performance in No Time To Die - Dune filmmaker Denis Villeneuve is on board as director, while Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight has been hired to write the script.
Next up it’s a matter of finding the third part of the jigsaw - the actor who will take on the iconic role.
It will be a life-changing role for whoever takes it on and becomes 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.
There have been many different actors rumoured to be in the frame, 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.
Here are the 12 current leading contenders according to Coral.
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5. Jack O'Connell - 8/1
One of the biggest movers in recent days is 'Sinners' and 'SAS: Rogue Heroes' star Jack O'Connell. He wasn't even being mentioned for the role two months ago, but has now shot up to being the 8/1 joint fifth favourite to don 007's tux. | Getty Images
6. Tom Hiddleston - 8/1
Tom Hiddleston has been a perennial long-shot with bookies to take over from Daniel Craig, but is another star who has seen his odds narrow - perhaps because of his Bond-esque performance in the latest series of 'The Night Manager'. The bookies have him as an 8/1 shot to jump from playing Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to another huge franchise. | Getty Images
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7. Theo James - 8/1
Just a few months ago suave 'Divergent' actor Theo James had seen his odds drift out to 12/1 suggesting her was out of the running, despite having led the charge earlier in 2025. He's now back in contention with his odds now 8/1. He had an eye-catching part in television show 'The White Lotus' and certainly looks the part. | Getty Images for Netflix
8. Anthony Boyle - 10/1
At the start of November 2025 the bookies reckoned that Anthony Boyle was the favourite for the spy role - and to become the first Northern Irish Bond. His odds have cooled slightly, but he's still a 10/1 shot - not bad when he wasn't even in the running just a couple of months ago. He found fame in London's West End, playing Scorpius Malfoy in 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' (winning an Olivier Award). He's gained further prominence for playing Arthur Guiness in recent hit Netflix television drama 'The House of Guiness' - which is written by Steven Knight, who is already on board as scriptwriter on the new Bond film. | Getty Images