Whereas followers of Netflix’s flashy spy collection The Recruit would like to see star Noah Centineo play the following James Bond, English actor James Norton is the present frontrunner. As of mid-February 2025, Oddschecker has Norton and Aaron Taylor-Johnson tied with the shortest betting odds to play 007 in Bond 26, with every given a 5/2 likelihood of profitable the position. Nevertheless, as soon as Bond producers and casting brokers see Norton within the underrated spy drama Rogue Agent, Norton’s odds may enhance significantly.
Launched in 2022, Rogue Agent stars Norton as a conniving felony who methods the world into believing he’s a top-ranking MI5 agent. Though he isn’t, Norton’s performative potential to persuade these round him that he is a talented spy solely bolsters his possibilities of proving his James Bond bona fides. In the meantime, these drawn to The Recruit‘s trendy implausibility will take pleasure in Rogue Agent‘s excessive twists and turns.
Rogue Agent
- Launch Date
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August 12, 2022
- Runtime
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114 Minutes
- Director
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Adam Patterson, Declan Garden
‘The Recruit’s Darkly Comedic Tackle Spy Dramas
The Recruit is a Netflix authorized spy drama with darkish comedy and journey leanings from creator Alexi Hawley. The story traces Owen Hendricks (Centineo), a brand new and naive CIA litigator caught in an moral bind as he learns the every day routines of delicate intelligence work. Grappling with quotidian protocols, Owen’s life turns into in grave hazard when he’s contacted by Max Meladze (Laura Haddock). Max is a former CIA informant ready to blackmail Owen and the CIA if she is not launched from jail for battering a trucker to dying.
As Owen untangles the knotty internet connecting Max to the CIA, each develop into embroiled in a high-stakes geopolitical plot. Belief turns into scarce, with Owen paranoid about who and who to not communicate to and relay delicate intelligence. Par for the course on a Netflix authentic collection, The Recruit favors fashion over substance, and lives and dies with the witty charms of its star, Noah Centineo.
The Recruit hardly reinvents spycraft or provides something new to espionage however stays flashy, fast-paced, and absurdly humorous. Whereas the tone could not be extra totally different than Rogue Agent, James Norton has the identical magnetic gravitas as Centineo, with, for Bond functions, the additional benefit of being British.
Who Is James Norton?
James Norton is an English actor who debuted onscreen within the 2009 movie An Training. With roughly 50 credit amassed, Norton has steadily graduated from supporting film and TV characters to main roles. Early credit embody Physician Who, Mr. Turner, Bonobo, Angelica, Conflict & Peace, and Black Mirror. Norton appeared within the American remake of Flatliners (2017), increasing his worldwide profile.
Norton’s visibility continued to extend with starring roles in Little Girls, the HBO authentic collection The Nevers, A Little Life, Bob Marley: One Love, and the Netflix authentic film Pleasure. In 2025, Norton will star within the ITV authentic drama miniseries Taking part in Good. With a handful of tasks in growth this 12 months and past, Norton may also be seen in Home of the Dragon, King and Conqueror, Home of Guinness, Spouse and Canine, and Sunny Dancer.
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Maybe misplaced in Norton’s spectacular resume is the 2022 spy drama Rogue Agent. Though the film lacks The Recruit‘s absurd darkish humor, Norton’s commanding efficiency as a posing spy underscores why he is the odds-on favourite to be solid as the following James Bond.
‘Rogue Agent’ Tells a Thrilling True Spy Story
Directed by Declan Garden and Adam Patterson, Rogue Agent tells the unbelievable true story of Robert Freegard (Norton). Tailored from Michael Bronner’s article “Chasing Agent Freegard,” the film tracks the conniving felony exploits of Robert Freegard, a British conman who fooled the British intelligence group into believing he was an official MI5 agent.
To start his long-con, Robert claims he’s an MI5, soliciting three fellow operatives — Ian (Rob Malone), Mae (Freya Mavor), and Sophie (Marisa Abela) — to help his mission to catch members of the Irish Republican Military (IRA). Posing as a luxurious automobile gross sales rep, Robert meets Alice Archer (Gemma Arterton), a lawyer whom he seduces together with his dashing Bond-like charms and chic charisma. A part of his seduction contains residing a lavish lifetime of luxurious, replete with fancy sports activities vehicles and flashy opulence.
The nearer Alice turns into to unmasking Robert’s identification as a fraudulent huckster who is just not an MI5 agent, the extra elaborate Robert’s schemes develop into to maintain his ruse intact. Even when Alice hires a non-public investigator to snoop round his financial institution information and credit score historical past, Robert stays one step forward, throws off her scent, and continually gaslights her with hazy alibis and hermetic excuses.
Past his appearing aplomb and convincing talent at taking part in a phony MI5 agent, Norton has the exact bodily stature, look, age (40 in 2025), and pure British dialect required to play James Bond. Between these qualities and his magnetic efficiency in Rogue Agent, it is easy to see why Oddschecker thinks Norton has the perfect likelihood to play the following Agent 007 in Bond 26.
The Recruit followers who’ve accomplished Season 2 since its debut on January 30, 2025, ought to preserve the streaming service open and head over to Rogue Agent. The film will showcase extra advanced spycraft and twisty double crossings with much less absurd humor, as James Norton’s seductive and complicated flip proves he has what it takes to don 007’s iconic tuxedo subsequent day out.
The Recruit and Rogue Agent are each accessible to stream on Netflix.