A new actor has entered the race to replace Daniel Craig as the next James Bond, GB News has exclusively learned.
For a while now, the likes of Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Damson Idris, James Norton, and Rege-Jean Page have dominated the market, although there has been some major movements in recent weeks.
Following rumours of Christopher Nolan boarding the franchise as the next film's director, Oppenheimer and Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy joined the frontrunners in the market.
And a number of female stars including Jodie Comer, Lupita Nyongo'o and Karen Gillan have also received backing from punters following calls for a "female", "black" or "female and black" Bond by an MI6 expert.
But now, after debuting a striking new look during a recent public appearance where he sported a shaved head, Dunkirk and Don't Worry Darling star Harry Styles is now in the running as a surprise outsider to step into Craig's shoes.
Lee Astley, Head of News for BettingSites.co.uk, exclusively revealed to GB News that Styles is now in the conversation to don 007's tuxedo.
Could Harry Styles be a surprise candidate to replace Daniel Craig?
GETTY
He said: "Harry Styles might be making the news for his hair style change rather than his singing or acting, but the One Direction star has joined the list of actors in competition to play the 00 agent.
"Mr Styles enters the market to play Bond amid rumours he will not only star in the movie but also perform the coveted soundtrack, which would be a first for the franchise.
"The talented Brit is no stranger to the silver screen, receiving accolades for his starring role in 2023 drama 'Don't Worry Darling' and playing a minor part in Christopher Nolan's epic Dunkirk - the director who is widely tipped to steer the next Bond movie."
While Styles may have received surprise backing, his odds do still pit him as an outsider for the role.
Daniel Craig has bid farewell to the role of Bond
GETTY
The former One Direction star is currently 22/1 to bag the part, landing him in better stead than the likes of Idris Elba, Tom Holland and Luke Evans.
However, he's still some way away from the likes of Taylor-Johnson (2/1), Murphy (5/1), Idris (6/1), and Norton (6/1) in the running.
Whoever takes over from Craig, it's bound to be a new-look for the franchise as producer Barbara Broccoli has addressed the task of crafting the character for modern audiences before.
However, one man who'll be hoping the character isn't reinvented too much is Brian Cox, who made his debut in the Bond universe as The Controller in Amazon Prime's reality series 007: Road To A Million.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
- Carol Vorderman tipped to land presenting gig on BBC rival after dramatic sacking for 'guidelines breach'
- Jeremy Clarkson fears further losses over ‘worrying’ habit of ‘relentless’ youngsters as he takes drastic step
- 'He's in a position of STRENGTH' Eamonn Holmes slaps down Hancock comparisons as he backs Farage for I'm A Celeb glory
Harry Styles has shaved his head. (via TMZ) pic.twitter.com/OchISyMKAM
— Pop Base (@PopBase) November 9, 2023
Cox said of the iconic spy: "(Daniel Craig) inhabited Bond brilliantly but lately I’ve been looking back at the Bond films from the 60s onwards, which has been wonderful.
"People have disclaimers now on some older programming which is fine, but at the same time, it’s a wonderful tradition that we try to carry on.
"We don’t muck around with Shakespeare; we shouldn’t muck around with James Bond," he explained," he told Radio Times.
