Two well-known female actors have joined the race to play James Bond following Daniel Craig's departure, according to exclusive data obtained by GB News.
The twist in bookmakers' markets will come as a shock to many, especially given how Bond boss Barbara Broccoli has publicly addressed the possibility of a female Bond before.
Speaking back in 2020 ahead of the theatrical release of Craig's swan-song in No Time to Die, Broccoli insisted Bond "is male".
She told Variety: "He can be of any color, but he is male. I believe we should be creating new characters for women — strong female characters.
"I’m not particularly interested in taking a male character and having a woman play it. I think women are far more interesting than that."
As a result, odds for a number of female stars began to downward spiral, including existing Bond star Lashana Lynch who played Nomi in No Time to Die, but now it appears the tables have turned.
Daniel Craig and Barbara Broccoli alongside Spectre star Naomie Harris and Christoph Waltz
GETTY
Killing Eve star Jodie Comer and Black Panther actor Lupita Nyong'o have made unexpected surges in betting markets to take on the role left by Craig - who himself hit headlines recently by debuting a striking new look - next.
Neil Roarty, betting expert and spokesperson for www.safebettingsites.com shared the insight with GB News as he revealed: "Of note in the latest Next James Bond betting is the recent entry of a selection of female stars to the market with Jodie Comer and Lupita Nyong'o now in the running alongside No Time To Die’s Lashana Lynch (33/1)."
However, he did concede that while the pair have entered the running, they're still some way behind the actors at the front of the pack.
He continued: "Comer joins the betting at 40/1 and Nyong'o enters at 50/1.
Lupita Nyong'o has emerged as a surprise newcomer to the Next Bond markets
PA
"While both actresses remain longshots, the fact that they’ve joined Lynch in the conversation means the public are not ruling out a female actor becoming the new 007."
The inclusion of Comer and Nyong'o in the running comes at the same time speculation heightens over who'll direct the next instalment in the Bond franchise.
Reports emerged last month that Oppenheimer boss Christopher Nolan is being targeted to helm Bond 26 and at least one other 007 film.
As a result, fans flooded the web as they claimed to have "worked out" who Nolan would want as Bond, and rumours of the director's involvement sparked another major shift at the top of the stakes.
Long-time frontrunner Aaron Taylor-Johnson has now emerged as the man to beat at odds of 2/1 while Peaky Blinders star and frequent Nolan collaborator Cillian Murphy has skyrocketed to 4/1 odds from 14/1.
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Could Jodie Comer take on the role of James Bond?
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Another surprise newcomer to the race alongside Comer and Nyong'o following the Nolan rumours is Robert Pattinson who's been priced at 14/1.
Roarty addressed the shift caused by the Nolan reports as he explained: "007 fans have been getting extremely excited by recent rumours that Christopher Nolan could be directing the next James Bond film and that speculation has certainly had an impact on the betting for our next Bond star.
"Long-time favourite Aaron Taylor-Johnson continues to lead the betting, but the Tenet actor has seen his odds contract even more from 5/2 to 2/1.
"The Christopher Nolan effect has also seen Robert Pattinson, another Tenet star, become a new entry in the market at 14/1.
"However, the biggest market shift has seen long-time Christopher Nolan collaborator Cillian Murphy’s odds contract dramatically from 14/1 to 4/1 to move into joint-second in the betting.
"If Nolan is the man to take the helm of the next 007 film, will he prove to be kingmaker when it comes to the next James Bond?"
