William Hill has reported a tense three-way tie between Tom Hardy, Rege-Jean Page and Idris Elba in the bid to find the next James Bond, with the trio now priced at 3-1. The Next James Bond market has seen Bridgerton heartthrob Rege-Jean Page knocked off the top spot in recent weeks by Venom star Tom Hardy, with Idris Elba also making a sharp rise to the top after recently being reconnected to the coveted superspy role.
Although the three have swapped places at the top of the market over the last month – with Hardy jumping from 6-1 and Idris Elba tightening from 5-1, it seems it’s now neck and neck. Idris Elba has noted the largest shift over the weekend, having been previously tipped to play a villain in the franchise and recently confirmed to have been ‘part of the conversation’ to play the next James Bond, when discussions were taking place earlier this year.
Tom Hardy was first favourite to play the next James Bond late last year, but was ousted out of the top five by other top contenders, before recently seeing an influx of fan backing. Rege-Jean Page stirred 007 rumours after dressing in Bond-esque velvet Armani tuxedo with Swarovski lapel at the Met Gala earlier this year, and expressing an interest in the role.
All three stars have incredibly impressive CVs – including Peaky Blinders, Luther, Roots and Batman – and are well-placed to take on the role of James Bond, with no major projects yet on the horizon for any of the actors, leaving their schedule wide open. The 007 market could be set to turn again, with Barbara Broccoli and her team stating that they’re looking for “something a bit different” when casting the next Bond – and the three frontrunners all bringing very different qualities to the table.
Top 10 contenders for the next James Bond
- Idris Elba (3-1)
- Tom Hardy (3-1)
- Rege-Jean Page (3-1)
- Henry Cavill (4-1)
- Chiwetel Ejiofor (4-1)
- Jamie Dornan (9-1)
- Michael Fassbender (10-1)
- James Norton (12-1)
- Douglas Booth (12-1)
- Richard Madden (12-1)
Speaking on the tie, Head of Sponsorship PR at William Hill, Tony Kenny, said: “Things are definitely heating up in the James Bond market, and it’s thrilling to see three acting titans who’ve seen a large influx of fan support sitting in the top spot.
“With filming not expected to take place for the next two years, it’s interesting to see who’s generated more interest in recent weeks, as fans clearly think these stars would be well-placed to take the next step in their career and take on the 007 role after that period.”
To see the full James Bond market, please visit: https://sports.williamhill.com/betting/en-gb/tv-specials/OB_EV1075072/next-james-bond-after-daniel-craig
