James Bond is one of the most iconic characters in the history of cinema, and second only to Star Wars in the most famous franchise stakes. It is understandable that the role is an honor and one hotly discussed among fans. But who will it be now that Daniel Craig has handed in his license to kill? Below, we discuss who the favorites are.
A Female Bond?
There has also been lots of speculation about a woman taking the role of James Bond in recent years. In Daniel Craig’s last outing, long-time favorite Lashana Lynch earned the 007 code name and badge number. However, her place in the movie was more an acknowledgment than an interesting plot hook. A movie with a full female in the main role could be the next move, especially as writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge, writer of the fantastic Fleabag and renowned for her honest portrayal of female characters, is the one person who could pull it off.
This also raises the question, do we need a female bond at all? Popular culture has already explored the concept and given us a plethora of female action heroes, from Lara Croft to Natasha Romanov. Even in the realm of online slot games at sites like LeoVegas live, who have been creating their retro game themes and characters, have explored it in titles like Agent Blonde Returns. Combined with attractive welcome bonuses for players and a huge choice of games, these websites now have massive followings, as do their original licenses. While Agent Blonde may have the lawyers knocking, a movie based on a slot game license can’t be that far away, and it may be a female action hero taking the lead.
Who is the Main Contender?
The main contender for the role is currently a marginal split between two people. Superman actor Henry Cavill is the favorite at 3/1. He is no stranger to playing action heroes, being both Superman and Gerald of Riviera from The Witcher in the past. James Norton is the second, who bookmakers are touting at odds of 4/1. The actor is a new contender due to his role in the television series Happy Valley.
Both men are followed by Rege-Jean Page, star of Bridgerton and the recent Dungeons and Dragons movie, sitting at odds of 8/1. Other actors in with a shot are Paapa Essiedu, the darling of the Royal Shakespeare Company and star of the miniseries I May Destroy You.
One long-time contender was Idris Elba. However, age has written him out of the equation. Practically, an actor is usually in the role of Bond for over ten years. At 50, even a short stint would take Elba to 60 in the franchise. The only exception to this was the famous George Lazenby. He was the only actor to play Bond in a single movie titled “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” Let’s hope that the next Bond fares much better, whoever that may be.
