Callum Turner has emerged as the current favourite to become the next James Bond, leading the betting odds ahead of Jack Lowden after reported final screen tests for the iconic 007 role.
The search for Daniel Craig's successor is reportedly entering its final stages, with a shortlist of actors said to have been invited to audition for the part. Turner, 36, and Slow Horses star Lowden, also 36, are among the leading contenders, alongside The Crown actor Josh O'Connor.
Betting odds and public preference
According to the latest odds listed by Oddschecker, Turner is priced at 4/7 to become the next James Bond, putting him firmly ahead of his closest competition. Lowden is second favourite at 5/2, while Challengers star O'Connor is further behind at 9/1.
The betting figures also suggest Turner is the public's preferred choice, accounting for 67 per cent of bets placed on who will be the next James Bond, compared with 33 per cent for Lowden.
Brosnan's support and other contenders
Former 007 actor Pierce Brosnan has also thrown his support behind Turner, describing him as "so strong" in a recent interview. Brosnan previously worked with the actor on the 2017 film The Only Living Boy in New York. However, no casting decision has been officially announced.
Among the other names listed by Oddschecker are Gladiator II actor Joseph Quinn and Robert Pattinson at 16/1. The list also includes Paddy Gibson and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau at 14/5, Donal Finn at 54/5, James Norton at 25/1, Aaron Taylor-Johnson at 28/1, Theo James at 33/1, Henry Cavill at 20/1, Richard Madden at 16/1, Tom Holland at 40/1, Idris Elba at 50/1 and Taron Egerton at 66/1.
The list also includes Saltburn star Jacob Elordi, Babygirl actor Harris Dickinson and Bridgerton favourite Jonathan Bailey. However, not all the names in the betting market are necessarily part of the reported final shortlist, and the odds are subject to change.
Previous Bond actors and next steps
The next actor to take on the role will become the seventh official James Bond in the long-running film franchise. Since the first official Bond film, Dr No, was released in 1962, six actors have portrayed the British secret agent: Sean Connery (1962-1971), George Lazenby (1969), Roger Moore (1973-1985), Timothy Dalton (1987-1989), Pierce Brosnan (1995-2002) and Daniel Craig (2006-2021).
There is currently no confirmed date for the announcement, although producer Amy Pascal has suggested the end of 2026 is a possibility. The next instalment, which will be the 26th official James Bond film, is being directed by Denis Villeneuve, best known for Dune and Blade Runner 2049. Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has been brought on to write the screenplay, while Pascal and David Heyman will produce. Production is expected to begin in 2027, with the next chapter of the franchise marking a new era under Amazon MGM Studios.
