Next Bond Girl Odds: Jessie Buckley New Favourite; Slow Horses Stars Join Race
There's been plenty of speculation about the next James Bond film in the last five years, and betting sites can expect lots more movement in the coming months.
That's after Amazon MGM Studios confirmed the casting process to find a new suave spy - to replace Daniel Craig, who bowed out of the role in 2021's No Time To Die - is very much under way.
They said in a statement: "The search for the next James Bond is under way. While we don’t plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we’re excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right."
It was already confirmed that Denis Villeneuve is to direct the next Bond film, and that Amy Pascal and David Heyman are producing.
Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has previously admitted he was working on the script - and now there looks to be a new casting director in town.
Jessie Leapfrogs Sydney
According to Variety, Nina Gold has been enlisted by Amazon MGM Studios to find the new 007, and it wouldn't be a surprise if she was asked to discover a new Bond Girl, too.
While the 'Bond Girl' terminology might be a bit old hat, the premise is the same - there will certainly be at least one female lead in the next Bond movie.
But who will be cast?
Sydney Sweeney has dominated the market for months, but the now-13/8 shot has been knocked off the top spot.
Hamnet actress Jessie Buckley has leapfrogged the White Lotus star, to be the new 6/4 favourite on betting apps.
Buckley has had things very much her own way during the recent award season, winning Best Actress at the Oscars, BAFTAs, Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards - to name but a few.
She will, of course, be in high demand from most casting directors - but it was Gold who cast her in Hamnet.
Well-Connected Edwards
Welsh actress Aimee-Ffion Edwards also has several links to the Bond production.
She was cast by Gold to be part of spy thriller Slow Horses, and she is well known to Knight after appearing as Esme Shelby in his beloved Peaky Blinders.
It would make sense if Edwards appeared in the next Bond movie, and she is just 15/8 to do so.
Another with close connections is Zendaya (2/1).
Next Bond Girl Odds:
Actress | Odds | Probability |
Jessie Buckley | 6/4 | 40% |
Sydney Sweeney | 13/8 | 38.1% |
Aimee-Ffion Edwards | 15/8 | 34.8% |
Zendaya | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Rose Leslie | 5/2 | 28.6% |
Eve Hewson | 3/1 | 25% |
Florence Pugh | 7/2 | 22.2% |
Erin Doherty | 4/1 | 20% |
Ana de Armas | 9/2 | 18.2% |
Margot Robbie | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Zoe Kravitz | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Saoirse Ronan | 8/1 | 11.1% |
She was directed by Villeneuve in the Dune movie series, and she worked with Bond producer Pascal on the Spider-Man franchise.
Her Dune co-star Florence Pugh (7/2) could also be in contention, especially after she impressed in 2018 spy thriller The Little Drummer Girl.
She previously told Digital Spy: "Someone asked if I wanted to be the first female Bond, and I was saying that I don't think we necessarily need that whole conversation.
"Do we need to have a female Bond? Couldn't we just make something new? And I think this [The Little Drummer Girl] is kind of a new take on it."
"Sydney Sweeney has been the talk of the Bond Girl role for months now, but Jessie Buckley might nab it from her. Buckley had it all her own way during the recent awards season, thanks to her Hamnet success story, and the movie's casting director Nina Gold could help land her a Bond part next. If not, Slow Horses star Aimee-Ffion Edwards would be a fantastic addition to any Bond movie, as would Game of Thrones star Rose Leslie."
Bond's Rose
Rose Leslie is a newcomer to the Bond Girl market, at 5/2.
The Scottish actress shot to global fame in the role of Game of Thrones character Ygritte, which was cast by Gold.
Rose's husband, Game of Thrones co-star Kit Harington, was previously touted as a possible next Bond, but it looks unlikely that he will land the role now.
But there could still be a family connection to the film if Leslie gets the nod.
There might even be a U2 link to the next Bond movie.
Irish actress Eve Hewson - who is also known as the daughter of U2 frontman Bono - is in contention, at 3/1, to be the next Bond Girl.
She is very much fresh in the thoughts of Amazon MGM Studios after she recently signed up to feature alongside Channing Tatum in the company's new movie, Isle of Man.
What's more, Hewson's compatriot, Saoirse Ronan, is an 8/1 chance to be a Bond Girl.
She has previously expressed her desire to play a villain in a 007 movie, but it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see her end up in a Bond film in some form.
* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.
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