Rumors over the casting of the next James Bond are reaching fever pitch, with bookmakers' favorites jostling for position and a surprise new contender quietly entering the frame. Daniel Craig's final outing in No Time to Die (2021) was both a critical triumph and a box office smash, but fans have been left waiting ever since for news of who will next step into the tuxedo.
That wait has stretched even further after the Broccoli family handed creative control of the franchise to Amazon MGM Studios, ushering in a new era for 007 and fueling speculation over the direction of the reboot. Speaking at Cannes, casting director Nina Gold added fresh intrigue to the process, hinting that the next Bond must be a long-term commitment and someone who can 'ooze sex appeal' across multiple films.
Against that backdrop, the usual bookies' favorites — Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Harris Dickinson and Callum Turner — continue to dominate the odds. But now a Netflix star has properly entered the frame: Vikings: Valhalla's Leo Suter.
Who Is Leo Suter?
A relative newcomer compared with the front-runners, Suter, 32, is best known for his television work, most notably in the crime drama Lynley and Netflix's historical epic Vikings: Valhalla. His work on Vikings: Valhalla leaned heavily into combat-heavy storytelling, with long stretches of stunt-driven filming that suggest familiarity with the demands of large-scale action production.
Away from the action, he's also got a softer side to his performances — showing there's more range there than his tougher, physical parts might suggest. Earlier this year, Suter addressed speculation about potentially taking on 007, hinting he may already be part of the wider conversation around casting. 'I think it might be somewhere in there, yeah, and I wouldn't say no,' he revealed to The Times in January, adding, 'Watch this space.'
Suter also earned strong notices for playing Toby Fedden in the Almeida Theatre's recent stage adaptation of Alan Hollinghurst's The Line of Beauty. More recently, attention has shifted to his lead role in the BBC's reboot of Inspector Lynley, where he steps into the part of detective Tommy Lynley, the aristocratic investigator previously played by Nathaniel Parker in the original series, which ran from 2001 to 2008.
Momentum Behind the Reboot
The Netflix star's growing odds for 007 come amid major momentum behind the reboot, with Dune and Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villeneuve now attached to helm the next chapter, while Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has been brought in to write the screenplay. Although nothing has been officially confirmed, industry speculation continues to point towards a fresh origin-style take on Bond, potentially following a younger version of the character at the start of his career. That approach would mirror the direction of the new video game 007 First Light, which also reimagines Bond in his early MI6 days.
Other Contenders
Meanwhile, Callum Turner is currently leading the betting with OddsChecker, emerging as the bookmakers' clear favorite in the race to become the next 007. The 36-year-old has already built a varied screen career, appearing as Theseus Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts spin-off films and picking up a BAFTA nomination for his performance in the BBC thriller The Capture. He has also featured in Apple TV+ war drama Masters of the Air and worked with George Clooney on The Boys in the Boat. Away from acting, Turner is engaged to pop star Dua Lipa, adding an extra layer of spotlight to his rising profile.
Close behind him in the odds is Harris Dickinson, 29, who is set to portray John Lennon in the upcoming Beatles biopics. After starting out in smaller British indie projects and television roles, he broke through internationally with films such as Triangle of Sadness, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and The King's Man. More recently, he appeared opposite Nicole Kidman in Babygirl and earned a BAFTA TV nomination for A Murder at the End of the World.
Australian actor Jacob Elordi also remains firmly in the mix, having first gained attention in Netflix's The Kissing Booth before moving into prestige television with Euphoria alongside Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney. He has since taken on more high-profile film work in Saltburn and Priscilla, and was even Oscar-nominated for his performance in Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein. His recent appearance in the romantic drama Wuthering Heights opposite Margot Robbie has only added to the momentum behind his name.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson continues to be a long-standing contender, with supporters of his Bond potential dating back years. Once a child actor, he made the jump to leading man status in Kick-Ass (2010) and has since built a portfolio across major franchises, including Godzilla, Avengers: Age of Ultron and 28 Years Later.
Jack O'Connell has also climbed the rankings more recently following his scene-stealing turn in the Oscar-winning Sinners. He began his career in Skins before earning critical acclaim in films such as Starred Up and '71, and later worked alongside Angelina Jolie in the Second World War drama Unbroken.
Henry Cavill remains a perennial wildcard in the discussion, having famously auditioned for Bond in 2006 before losing out to Daniel Craig.
Release Date Speculation
However, audiences are expected to wait for the next 007 film, with reports suggesting a release as late as 2028 would mark one of the longest gaps between Bond films in the franchise's history. As one source put it: 'Bond won't be back until 2028. The production mindset's gone from "let's hurry this through" to "make sure we get this right".' They added, 'Denis wanted a long break after Dune 3 and has some broad ideas on the script. Steven will get on with drafts before they map out the final version. That'll take at least the whole summer.'
Craig remains the franchise's longest-serving 007, having portrayed the character for 15 years, most recently in Skyfall and his final outing in No Time to Die.
