22 April 2023 , 04:55
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A new favourite in the race to play James Bond has emerged - leaving past favourites in the dust.
The search is on for the next 007 to grace the big screen after Daniel Craig hung up his tuxedo in 2021 following the release of No Time To Die and after playing agent Bond since 2006.
A wide range of British actors have been suggested to take on the role - with the next instalment in the long-running franchise tipped to hit cinema screens as soon as 2025.
Happy Valley actor James Norton is now the new favourite with odds of 9-4 with bookmaker Coral to be the next James Bond following strong support in the firm's betting on Friday.
Daniel Craig played James Bond from 2006 until 2021 (Getty Images)Coral's John Hill explained: "We have seen a strong wave of support behind James Norton in our next James Bond betting and as a result, he is the new favourite to replace Daniel Craig as 007.”
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The latest announcement comes just weeks after Aaron Taylor Johnson was tied with Henry Cavil to take on the role.
However, Aaron is now in second place to take the role with odds of 5-2 from the betting firm - and Henry’s odds stand at 11-4.
James Norton is the new favourite to take over as 007 (BBC/Red Productions)Elsewhere, Bridgerton star Rege-Jean Page has odds of 8-1, action star Tom Hardy has 9-1 odds, Scottish actor Jack Lowden has odds at 10-1, and the Hobbit star Aidan Turner trails at 16-1.
The role could be something of a poisoned chalice, however, as Daniel Craig hinted he resented taking on the role.
Back in 2015, while promoting Spectre, and asked by the Guardian if her could imagine reprising the role, he declared. “Now? I’d rather … slash my wrists,.
“No, not at the moment. Not at all. That’s fine. I’m over it at the moment. We’re done. All I want to do is move on.”
Aaron Taylor-Johnson is currently second favourite to take over the roleDaniel announced in 2019 that No Time To Die would be his last appearance as Bond - but franchise bosses have been taking their time to find a replacement.
Indeed, the ‘race’ to find a replacement has dragged on for so long that early favourite Idris Elba, 50, has since ruled himself out - declaring last year that he is “too old” to play the spy.
James Norton is currently starring in a West End production titled A Little Life - based on the novel of the same name by Hanya Yanagihara.
The controversial play has seen some audience members walk out due to unsettling scenes that depict rape, child abuse, and contain nudity.
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Henry Cavill remains in the running to appear in the role (ITV)Aaron Taylor-Johnson will soon be seen in another Marvel film titled Kraven the Hunter where he will play the titular big-game hunter and superhero.
And third place actor Henry Cavil is set to appear in the upcoming Apple TV+ film series Argylle - an espionage series directed by Layer Cake director Matthew Vaughn and is based on an as-yet-unreleased novel by an author named Elly Conway.