Next James Bond Odds: Boyle Now Favored to Be the Next Bond

For nearly six decades, the Broccoli family has been the sole architect of the James Bond franchise, carefully selecting each actor and director with the precision of an MI6 operation.

From Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, the family's decision on who deserved the 007 moniker was final, and nothing would be greenlit without Barbara’s approval. That was before Amazon provided a billion reasons for the Brocolis to change their tune. After acquiring MGM studios for $8.5 billion, the tech giant has officially taken control of the most prestigious spy franchise in cinema history.

In their first move, Amazon MGM went against the grain to sign acclaimed Canadian director Denis Villeneuve, signalling a serious reimagining of the beloved franchise. Villeneuve was not a frontrunner for the position, and with him already involved in the Dune franchise, the move also let fans know that a new Bond wasn't going to be the director's main priority in the immediate future.

And wouldn't you know it, September reports from multiple sources, including Deadline, indicated that Villeneuve wouldn't begin casting the next Bond until he finished Dune: Part Three. The latest in the sci-fi franchise started filming in July, and production is expected to conclude sometime in November.

While Villeneuve is still working on Dune: Part Three, mid-October reports hint at the possibility of Anthony Boyle (Tolkien, Tetris) being the favorite to land the coveted role. These reports have been enough to shift the odds at major sportsbooks, including FanDuel Ontario, where Boyle sits as the favorite as of October 17.

Boyle makes sense, as Villeneuve is rumored to want an unknown British actor to take on the role of Bond. While Boyle fits this bill, other favorites, such as Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Nosferatu, Kick-Ass), Callum Turner (Fantastic Beasts franchise), and Henry Cavill (Man of Steel), can hardly be considered unknowns.

One thing is certain: For the first time, it's unclear who will be calling the shots when it comes to picking the next Bond. Villeneuve has his own ideas, but who knows if Amazon MGM will try to take more control over their marquee billion-dollar franchise. Here are the latest odds from FanDuel Canada:

Next James Bond Odds

(Updated October 17 at 2:00 p.m. ET)

Next James Bond Contenders

As one-time Bond Pierce Brosnan said, more people have walked on the moon than have played James Bond (Indeed that is correct, with the score 12-7 to NASA).

Dickinson, Elordi, and Holland were the three names dominating conversations after rumors of a shortlist surfaced, and then perennial Bond favorite Aaron Taylor-Johnson joined the front of the pack. Taylor-Johnson was a heavy favorite (-160) in late September, but he's since fallen off, as Anthony Boyle has taken over as the frontrunner (+300).

With no one currently being given a greater than 25% chance of landing the role, here's a detailed look at some of the most notable contenders for the iconic role:

Anthony Boyle (+300)

If you've never heard of Boyle, you're not alone. He's probably best known for his supporting roles in Tolkien and Tetris, though fans of the Apple TV+ mini-series Masters of Air may recognize him for his starring role alongside Callum Turner. 

Boyle wasn't getting much consideration for the role of Bond until early October. Now, he's the favorite, even if not by much. There are a few things that make Boyle's chances seem realistic. One, he's a relative unknown, which is what Villeneuve says he wants. Two, this means that when publications are running articles claiming he's the favorite to be the next Bond, they know they're not going to get clicks due to name recognition.

Boyle's rise feels authentic. And with everything we know about what Villeneuve and Amazon MGM want for this role, Boyle feels like a perfect fit. If you're going to wager on Boyle, you may want to do it soon. He's not a huge name, so I don't anticipate his odds dropping much until he's a sure thing, but with how quickly he climbed the ranks, I'm thinking that news could be coming soon.

Callum Turner (+430)

Until Boyle came along, Turner was the one favorite who made a lot of sense as Bond. While Turner is certainly known in pop culture, after all, he is engaged to Dua Lipa, he's yet to become a Hollywood leading man. 

Turner is best known for playing Theseus Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts series, but the general public wouldn't know him from anything else. He took on the leading role in George Clooney's The Boys in the Boat, which was released in 2023. However, the film was hardly a box office hit, grossing $55.5 million, and the reviews were mixed.

If Amazon MGM truly wants to go away from a big-name actor, then Turner is a great option, because while he's not the reason any of his films have been box office hits, he's still played key roles in films that have crossed $400 million at the box office. While Boyle is favored, Turner is the one actor who hasn't gone away and feels like a legitimate contender.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson (+750)

The name most closely linked to Bond over the last two years, there is now some value in backing Aaron Taylor-Johnson to land the role that was once thought to be his to lose. His action-heavy resume featuring Bullet Train, Tenet, and Nosferatu is seasoned enough to handle the weight of the Bond franchise, and Taylor-Johnson himself fits the profile perfectly. He is one English candidate that will always be mentioned in Bond casting conversations, and on paper, there’s very little standing in his way.

However, plenty of great English actors have come and gone as favourites for this role, and despite the constant noise and speculation, no rumored agreement has ever surfaced. With any prior approaches and promises now moving beyond Barbara Broccoli’s control, the reality of Taylor-Johnson’s path to Bond has only grown murkier. For a star who’s been rumored to have already signed the Bond contract more than once, there’s still no reliable indication, beyond some Omega watch ads, that this casting is happening.

When Taylor-Johnson was sitting at -160 to earn this role, there was no value in taking him. However, at +750, betting on him is much more enticing, as there's no doubt that his name is going to be circling the role until someone else is ultimately crowned. While I don't think Taylor-Johnson will be the next Bond, he's the most likely of any big-name actor in this conversation.

Harris Dickinson (+1400)

Still only 29, Dickinson is a relative newcomer riding high off the buzz of his lead performance in Babygirl last year.

Despite earning critical acclaim across several recent projects, the tall Englishman lacks the resume the studio may be looking for in choosing their franchise anchor. His earlier price was inflated by his inclusion on the rumoured shortlist, but with the market now adjusting, he's drifted to a more reasonable number that better reflects his current profile.

Dickinson is a talented actor who is appreciated within the niche of film circles, but the Bond brand demands more than acting potential. With a role in Sam Mendes’ four Beatles films now on his plate, Dickinson could complicate his availability if Amazon wants to break ground on this long-term franchise right away.

Jacob Elordi (+2500)

At just 27, Jacob Elordi is not only one of the youngest on this list, but also the only Australian being seriously considered, though it's worth mentioning the franchise has gone Down Under before with the casting of George Lazenby. While a talented actor, his casting and body of work typically lean more towards romantic drama roles than anything resembling a spy thriller. He has built his reputation through roles in Euphoria and Saltburn but has been pivoting to auteur-driven projects, starring as Del Toro’s Frankenstein later this year.

Tom Holland (+2500)

Tom Holland is possibly the biggest British superstar to be considered. Aside from often being seen as too baby-faced to convincingly carry a license to kill, Holland is also one of Hollywood’s busiest actors, with Nolan’s Odyssey and new Spider-Man and Avengers entries still in the pipeline.

From a business perspective, Amazon MGM may hesitate from casting an actor so closely associated with Disney properties to be the face of their studio. Having established himself as a global icon, committing a near decade to film Bond seems counterintuitive to his career trajectory. While his inclusion on the rumored shortlist suggested industry curiosity, his +2500 odds reflect his unlikely prospects of juggling both the roles of James Bond and Peter Parker.

Aaron Pierre (+2700)

As is the trend with much of this market, Aaron Pierre is a British actor whose career is peaking at precisely the right moment. The 31-year-old has been a fancast favorite in Bond circles for years, often championed as the ideal choice if the franchise chooses to introduce its first Black James Bond story. Pierre has excelled in dramatic roles like Rebel Ridge and was handpicked to lead as Mufasa in last year’s revival, but he is still waiting on his big blockbuster moment.

Considering he wasn’t included in the rumored shortlist floating around, Pierre’s early +750 price tag was likely fueled by fan enthusiasm rather than insider momentum. However, his odds have declined in recent months.

Josh O’Connor (+4000)

Considered a rising favorite earlier in the year, Josh O’Connor quietly slid into dark horse territory. Much of the steam that made him a favorite earlier this year came from a confident insider prediction, but the market rallied behind it. At the time, there was real belief that O’Connor had the right mix of talent and charm to land the role, and O’Connor saw his chances peak as high as 55%. While that momentum has since faded and his price has adjusted, the 34-year-old has built a strong, versatile career in the independent film scene, and at this price there’s no pressure in taking a longshot on a proven British talent. His work and critical acclaim has kept him in the spotlight, but perhaps not in the flashy way Amazon may require from its lead.