Next Bond – Doctor Who star’s odds slashed in half in ‘major shift’

James Bond: Producers 'want someone in his 30s' says King

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We’re now over a year since No Time To Die hit cinemas, ending Daniel Craig’s 15 year reign as James Bond. Meanwhile, this month marks the 60th anniversary of the 007 franchise, but there’s still no news on who will play Ian Fleming’s spy next. Producer Barbara Broccoli has teased that production on the Bond 26 reboot is at least two years away but that doesn’t stop all the excitement surrounding the bookies’ odds.

This should all be taken with a pinch of salt given that EON Productions say they haven’t started looking, but the latest shake-up at William Hill has 11th Doctor Who star Matt Smith with odds of 20-1 after they were halved from 40-1.

Certainly the 39-year-old is currently very much in the pop culture eye playing Daemon Targaryen in Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, which could well explain the sudden surge of interest in him taking up the Licence to Kill as the 7th James Bond.

The actor is well known for playing posh characters from his professor-like take on The Doctor to Prince Philip in The Crown and now King Viserys’ brother in the adult fantasy drama.

Bond is an old Etonian public school boy with a fondness for being formally dressed and serving King and Country so Smith would certainly be a good fit. 

A spokesman for the bookies’ said: “The recent success of House of Dragon was bound to shake up the Bond market, but Matt Smith seeing his odds half for the role is clearly a major shift – one that’s worth paying attention to given the keen fan backing. He’s of the right age to take on the role, and has proven he’s a diverse and talented actor – and he’s no stranger to taking on an iconic British character, either!”

Although at almost 40, Smith may well be too old given recent comments on the future of Bond by producer Michael G Wilson.

The 80-year-old recently told Deadline: “We’ve tried looking at younger people in the past. But trying to visualise it doesn’t work. Remember, Bond’s already a veteran. He’s had some experience. He’s a person who has been through the wars, so to speak. He’s probably been in the SAS or something. He isn’t some kid out of high school that you can bring in and start off. That’s why it works for a thirty-something.”

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Smith is joint at 20-1 in the race to be the next Bond with Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy, while Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Aidan Turner are on 14-1.

In the Top 10 are as follows: Michael Fassbender, Douglas Booth and Richard Madden on 12-1, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Luke Evans on 9-1, Idris Elba on 7-1, James Norton on 5-1, Tom Hardy and Henry Cavill on 4-1 and Regé-Jean Page.

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