Daniel Craig brought his James Bond journey to an end in 2021 after the release of his fifth and final movie, No Time To Die.
His 15-year tenure as 007 has made him the longest-serving actor to play the hero, but that has done nothing but amp up the anticipation around who will replace him.
The ever-changing Bond odds have continued to fluctuate over the past few months. And with no real announcement coming until either later this year or in 2024, fans are clinging to any information they can get.
Well, the latest batch of numbers from Ladbrokes have thrown everything fans thought they knew out of the window.
Previously, Tom Hardy and Henry Cavill were front runners, while Marvel and Kick-Ass star Aaron Taylor-Johnson was at the top of the odds, making him the favourite for the next James Bond role. But his lead has just been beaten by a newcomer to the Bond race: Paapa Essiedu.
READ MORE: Tom Hanks backs British fan-favourite for Next James Bond
Essiedu, the British actor from Southwark, London, is 32-years-old and is a fantastic candidate to become the next Bond, James Bond.
He’s made waves on both stage and screen, with some notable TV shows including I May Destroy You, Anne Bolyn, The Lazarus Project and Black Mirror.
He’s also cleaned up in cinemas, as well, claiming leading roles in Murder on the Orient Express and the traumatising Men.
And, after a flurry of bets, Essiedu is now the favourite to become the next James Bond, with 3/1 odds from Ladbrokes, placing him leagues ahead of the other popular favourites.
It is unknown why a bunch of bets have been placed on the young actor, but could there be auditions and screen tests going on behind the scenes?
This news is even more devastating for fans of former favourites Henry Cavill and Tom Hardy.
Cavill previously auditioned to play 007 in 2004 before Craig took the role. He lost out, but he is primed and ready to take the role this time around.
He currently has a strong 4/1, but he has seen better days where the odds are concerned.
Meanwhile, Hardy has slipped behind in the race dramatically. While he was once an almost sure thing for the role, he’s now not even in the top four of the Bond odds.
Hardy now has 7/1 – but Ladbrokes’ Alex Apati doesn’t believe he is completely out of the race just yet.
Apati said: “Paapa Essiedu’s arrival at the head of the betting has taken us all by surprise, but the odds suggest Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Henry Cavill are still well within the 007 race.”
What’s more, Happy Valley’s James Norton also still has a fighting chance, with an epic 6/1.
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