Next Bond Villain Odds: Keoghan Shortens But Cox And Foy In Contention
James Bond fans, rejoice! The search for the new 007 is well under way.
Betting sites have been busy in recent days after Amazon MGM Studios confirmed the casting process to find Daniel Craig's replacement has started.
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."
Denis Villeneuve is to direct the next Bond film, which will be penned by Peaky Blinders scribe Steven Knight, and it's also known that Amy Pascal and David Heyman are producing.
According to Variety, highly experienced casting director Nina Gold has been enlisted to find the 007.
If the search for a new Bond is under way, that means it won't be long until Amazon looks for a new Bond villain.
Barry Goes Odds-On
Following speculation that Gold has joined Team 007, Barry Keoghan has been cut to just 4/6 on betting apps to land the role as the next male villain in a Bond movie.
He is well known to Amazon MGM Studios, which was behind the movie Saltburn, which helped shoot Keoghan to further fame in 2023. He is also well-known to Gold.
She previously cast the actor in HBO's historical miniseries Chernobyl, and she also signed him up to portray legendary Beatles drummer Sir Ringo Starr in former Bond director Sam Mendes' hotly anticipated project, The Beatles - A Four-Film Cinematic Event.
"Barry Keoghan's chances of landing a Bond villain role have hugely improved after his Chernobyl casting director Nina Gold landed the job of finding the next 007. But don't write off the likes of Brian Cox or Claire Foy. Fiona Shaw would also make a formidable opponent for the suave spy. Sign her up!"
Irish star Keoghan has previously distanced himself from playing the suave spy and hinted he would be open to a villainous role in a Bond movie.
He told Radio Times: "[James Bond is] an iconic role and a lot of weight and pressure comes with that.
"It's nice to see your name go up there, but I don't think I fit the criteria for James Bond.
"I'd rather come in and do the villain. The man teasing Bond, that's more me."
Keoghan's Saltburn co-star Jacob Elordi is a 2/1 chance to be the next Bond villain, while Stephen Graham (4/1) and Cillian Murphy (5/1) are also in contention.
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
Bond Vs Brian
Scottish actor Brian Cox is already no stranger to the James Bond franchise, and even a villainous role.
He portrayed The Controller in Prime Video reality competition series 007: Road to a Million, and if Amazon were impressed with his performance, then it wouldn't be a surprise to see him cast in the next Bond movie.
Cox is just 11/10 second favourite to be the next male Bond villain, but he faces strong competition from Stellan Skarsgard (6/4), who was cast by Gold in Andor and Chernobyl.
Skarsgard boosted his stock even further earlier this year when he landed a Golden Globe award for Supporting Actor in A Motion Picture.
Next Male James Bond Villain Odds:
Actor | Odds | Probability |
Barry Keoghan | 4/6 | 60% |
Brian Cox | 11/10 | 47.6% |
Stellan Skarsgard | 6/4 | 40% |
Iwan Rheon | 13/8 | 38.1% |
John Boyega | 15/8 | 34.8% |
Jacob Elordi | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Aidan Gillen | 5/2 | 28.6% |
Michael B Jordan | 3/1 | 25% |
Stephen Graham | 4/1 | 20% |
Cillian Murphy | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Colin Farrell | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Jude Law | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Another star Gold knows well is Game of Thrones actor Iwan Rheon (13/8), who played evil Ramsay Bolton in the HBO series.
If Bond bosses are looking to make life extremely difficult for 007 in the next film, then Welsh star Rheon could be a good option as the next villain.
Rheon's Game of Thrones co-star Aidan Gillen - who played manipulative Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish - could also be in contention at 5/2.
Friend Or Foy?
There is also strong competition in terms of the next female Bond villain, and Claire Foy is the new 5/4 favourite to take on the part.
Gold has cast Foy in several projects, but most notably as Queen Elizabeth II in regal Netflix drama The Crown - and she would make a fantastic Bond villain, as would Fiona Shaw.
The Irish star - cast by Gold in the likes of Andor and Bad Sisters - is 11/8 to land such a role, and it's a wonder she hasn't ever graced a Bond movie with her presence before.
Hamnet star Jessie Buckley (6/4) is also likely to be in high demand after she won just about every Best Actress accolade going during the recent awards season - and that was partly down to Gold, who received a nomination for the inaugural Academy Award for Achievement in Casting for the 2025 film.
Next Female James Bond Villain Odds:
Actress | Odds | Probability |
Claire Foy | 5/4 | 44.4% |
Fiona Shaw | 11/8 | 42.1% |
Jessie Buckley | 6/4 | 40% |
Margot Robbie | 13/8 | 38.1% |
Saoirse Ronan | 15/8 | 34.8% |
Olivia Colman | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Zendaya | 5/2 | 28.6% |
Tessa Thompson | 3/1 | 25% |
Emily Blunt | 7/2 | 22.2% |
Florence Pugh | 4/1 | 20% |
Rachel Weisz | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Elle Fanning | 8/1 | 11.1% |
If bosses want a cheerier role for Buckley, she could be the next Bond Girl instead.
Saoirse Ronan is another to have previously expressed her desire to be a Bond villain.
She said on the Happy Sad Confused podcast: "I've always said that I want to play a Bond villain. I'd really love to do that. I'm serious, I would."
She is a 15/8 chance to get her wish.
* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.
Who do you think would make a great Bond villain? Let us know in the comments below!
