The excitement surrounding who will be chosen to play the next James Bond in Amazon’s upcoming reboot is palpable. And while we’ll likely be waiting a while (probably until next year), the rumor mill continues to churn, and the bookies continue to reveal who the favorites for the new 007 are.
Despite having to wait to hear the name of the actor who will portray the latest iteration of one of cinema’s most iconic action heroes, we already know several details about James Bond 26. Dune and Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villeneuve will be at the helm, with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight penning the script. These monumental talents will need to find the perfect actor to play their 007, and they may have found him in this wicked rising star…
Jonathan Bailey Is Climbing the 007 Rankings
Turning to the bookies’ favorites, the likes of former Man of Steel Henry Cavill, 28 Years Later star Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and The Gentlemen’s Theo James continue to top the list, but a new name has now emerged…and that name is Jonathan Bailey. Best known for his breakout role in the hit Netflix period romance series Bridgerton, Bailey has continued to climb up the Hollywood ladder thanks to roles in both the Jurassic World franchise and the musical phenomenon, Wicked.
A star of both stage and screen, Bailey now finds himself just behind the likes of Cavill, Taylor-Johnson, and James in the 007 rankings, with his key roles in this year’s Wicked: For Good and Jurassic World Rebirth no doubt pushing his name back into view. Bailey has been rumored on-and-off for the role of James Bond before, with the actor recently dropping a potential hint about his Bond future after starring as the “Martini Man” in a new ad campaign earlier this year. The hint, of course, being that 007’s favorite drink is a vodka martini…shaken not stirred.
The English actor has already demonstrated his affinity as a heartthrob with his role as Lord Anthony Bridgerton in Bridgerton. However, despite playing a crucial role in Jurassic World Rebirth, his ability as a potential action star is still very much a blind spot. At 37 years old, he’s also older than current rumors have claimed, with Amazon reportedly looking for a “fresh face” 20-something actor that can grow into the role.
Callum Turner Remains the Heavy Favorite for ‘James Bond 26’
Whether Jonathan Bailey would make a good James Bond is open to debate (his take would likely lean more into the silliness of Roger Moore than the grit of Daniel Craig, but, you never know, there might be more darkness than we think behind those scarecrow eyes), the Wicked star is not yet the firm favorite. That honor still belongs to Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore and Masters of the Air star Callum Turner, who leads the 007 pack.
Unlike many of the other actors in contention for the coveted role of James Bond, Turner is also mostly free of any franchises (though he has since become the lead of Apple TV’s sci-fi series, Neuromancer, which could affect his chances). However, a VegasInsider spokesperson has offered more insight into Turner’s odds, telling Time+Tide:
“Once considered an outside contender, he gradually worked his way into the top ten, and in recent months his momentum has only increased. Now, for the first time, he has overtaken Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the frontrunner to become the next 007 with odds of +262. Turner fits many of the qualities the producers are said to be seeking: he is British, his career is on the rise, and he isn’t a household name yet. That relative freshness could work strongly in his favour, as the Bond team has often preferred an actor who can grow into the role rather than someone who arrives with an established persona.”
While Turner is now the firm favorite to lead Amazon’s reboot, the likes of Henry Cavill and Aaron Taylor-Johnson remain formidable competitors. The latter is now in second place, with the VegasInsider spokesperson adding, “History suggests that this could be only a temporary dip – Taylor-Johnson has fallen from the top spot before, only to reclaim it weeks later. Over the past three years, he has proven the most consistent candidate, holding onto the #1 position for longer stretches than anyone else in the race.”
Henry Cavill, meanwhile, who has come frustratingly close to playing the role before after losing to Daniel Craig for the 2006 reboot, Casino Royale, is gradually sliding down the rankings. Frankly, either Aaron Taylor-Johnson or Henry Cavill being chosen for the role would come as a surprise, as both possess much higher profiles than the studio has traditionally gone for when picking the next 007, and have multiple tentpole projects in the pipeline.