Next James Bond Odds
The name is Bond – James Bond. The role of Britain’s most famous spy is one of the most coveted in the acting world, and with a rare opportunity to step into the recently vacated role of the suave British MI6 agent, it’s not just Hollywood insiders speculating who will receive the job offer of a lifetime; punters are also weighing in, and pouncing on one of the most fun ways to bet at Bodog Casino… Royale.
Since its first cinematic incarnation in 1962 (Dr No), which launched a 31-year-old Sean Connery onto the global stage, Ian Fleming’s impossibly sophisticated protagonist has kept the moviegoing public enthralled. 25 mostly great movies later, an intense recruitment drive is seeking the next-big-thing to ooze perfectly flawed perfection as Bond – codenamed ‘007’ – thwarts the plans of perfectly evil criminal masterminds and would-be terrorists.
And it’s a role that producers know they must get right if they’re to continue the successes that Daniel Craig carried to the finishing line in September 2021: the seven actors who have portrayed 007 over exactly six decades have become synonymous with James Bond, with more than one miscasting potentially compromising the character’s legacy. Thankfully, with more hits than misses, Bond is as popular as he ever was. This longevity has sparked a whole new generation of interest in the Bond flicks, leaving the franchise to die another day while fans predict which actor will be granted a licence to kill; and, in turn, make their own cash killing on the next James Bond betting.
Iconic Actors
Every dyed-in-the-wool 007 fan has their favourite Bond actor, and whoever occupies that particular cockle of the heart (perhaps with the exception of that uninspired era of Pierce Brosnan’s Bond) likely depends on when you consumed the films.
Roger Moore can lay claim to the Bond of the seventies, with his thick black hair and chiselled chin redefining the franchise. He began his tenure in Live and Let Die (1973), followed by a slew of classic releases like The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979) before giving it one last shot in 1983’s Octopussy.
The 90s Bond was drifting on cruise control, with Pierce Brosnan‘s lifted eyebrow starring in four films like GoldenEye (1995) and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997). that many Gen Ys had seen after he starred in
Even with the most recent spate of box office hits and enthusiastic acceptance of Daniel Craig’s blue-shorted Bond, the most revered of them all is still the original. The late Sir Sean Connery first immortalised the character in 1962 with Dr. No, alongside unparalleled Bond girl Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress), and continued to ensure – five more times – that there was never a dull on-screen moment. Consequently, Connery’s Bond classics – including From Russia with Love (1963), Goldfinger (1964) and Diamonds Are Forever (1971) – are as iconic as ever.
The Daniel Craig Era
The most recent actor to grace the silver screen as the charismatic agent, and one who has enjoyed widespread acclaim along the way, is Daniel Craig. His appointment to the role marked a monumental reset and modernised the franchise. Craig’s first turn as 007, in Casino Royale, marked a major change in both tone and aesthetics in the series. Not only was he the first blonde Bond, but his first film, Casino Royale (2006). Thus began an attempt to modernise the franchise by moving it away from the formulaic nature.
Despite some initial trepidation about the change in direction, Casino Royale was met with near-universal critical acclaim. It is the joint-second-highest rated Bond film on Rotten Tomatoes, behind only Goldfinger. This was followed up by Quantum of Solace in 2008, Skyfall in 2012, Spectre in 2015, and No Time to Die in 2021.
In general, Craig’s time as 007 has been praised for helping to bring the franchise into the 21st century. But just like every other actor before him, Craig must now hand back his licence to kill and step back into civilian life. With his imminent retirement, the rumour mill is running at full speed with discussion about which actor could take his place.
With an announcement of the next Bond expected soon, Bodog Casino has the best next James Bond odds for the actor we’ll all be watching as the new 007.
Regé-Jean Page (+250)
Regé-Jean Page is currently the co-favourite to take over from Craig. That’s despite his efforts to distance himself from the buzz in recent months, albeit without an outright denial.
Page got his big break after playing the Duke of Hastings in the hit Netflix show, Bridgerton. This is what’s helped him to take pole position for becoming the next James Bond.
If he did secure the role, Page would become the first person of colour to play Britain’s most famous spy. The 34-year-old was born in London to a Zimbabwean mother and an English father and he spent several years living in Harare, Zimbabwe. It was on his return to the UK that he began taking acting classes, a move that could eventually land him a place in the history books.
Idris Elba (+250)
As an actor whose name has long been bandied about by bookmakers waiting for the casting of all manner of sufficiently popular fictional characters, Idris Elba is right at home on this list. Elba has been a natural contender to step into Bond’s larger-than-life patent leather shoes since the earliest public speculation. The 49-year-old isn’t much younger than Craig, so he would be unlikely to sustain the same longevity in the role as the current 007. Despite that, he has been suggested as a candidate for the role since at least 2015.
Fans and bookmakers experienced a collective rush when, in a statement to Vanity Fair in 2019, Elba declared that he would “definitely” accept the job if it was offered to him.
Like Page, Elba would be the first POC to play 007. He holds joint British and Sierra Leonean citizenship and was born in London to a Sierra Leonean Creole father and a Ghanaian mother.
Elba has enjoyed a very varied career, working as an actor, singer, rapper, DJ, and writer, so perhaps we could also see him perform the theme song for his first outing as Bond.
Tom Hardy (+500)
Tom Hardy, not so long ago, had been crowned favourite to become the next Bond. While Page and Elba have since overtaken him, his odds remain strong at +600, a calculation that very much keeps his name on the lips of speculators.
At 44, he still has a decade over Page, but Hardy is also young enough to grow into the role before any vigour should be lost to age.
Hardy’s acting career has showcased his remarkable diversity, including several action films that could be considered an unofficial audition for the role of Bond, such as Legend (2015); where he played both of the famous Kray Twins.
Hardy is a more traditional choice for Bond who could bring a similar vibe to Craig, so he would well make for an easy replacement.
The race for the next James Bond is exciting the living daylights of fans. Now that No Time to Die is out of the bag, expect a decision to be announced soon. This is the time to dash over to the next James Bond betting page at Bodog Casino, and put some stakes in the new 007.