James Bond betting tips: Who will be the next Bond Girl?
Amazon is gathering pace with its takeover of the James Bond franchise.
David Heyman and Amy Pascal have been appointed as leading producers, and now Denis Villeneuve has been handed the task of directing the next James Bond film.
Beyond casting Agent 007 himself, the matter of selecting a new Bond Girl has to be settled, and Gambling.com entertainment expert James Leyfield has delivered an updated market to Film News Blitz.
I've been expecting you, Mr Bond
In light of Villeneuve being appointed as the director of the upcoming James Bond film, attention immediately turned to who will be cast as the world’s most famous secret agent.
According to reports, Jacob Elordi, Tom Holland, and Harris Dickinson are leading the way to be cast as a younger, modern Bond.
But who will join the leading man in the prominent female role?
The Bond Girl favourites
With Amazon keen on a younger 007, it’s no surprise to see some of Hollywood’s peak rising female talent lead the way in the odds to be the new Bond Girl.
In pole position is Florence Pugh, who has taken over as the favourite to be the next Bond Girl, on 11/8.
Pugh is no stranger to working alongside Villeneuve, having done so recently in his epic space opera motion picture Dune: Part Two, and her career to date has seen her expertly navigate indie favourites such as Midsommar, or tentpole franchise flicks like Marvel’s Thunderbolts*.
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With Holland in the running for James Bond, his partner in life and on-screen, Zendaya comes in second on the Bond Girl odds list at 6/4.
Zendaya is a bona fide superstar, an incredible actress, a talented singer and a powerful modelling presence; there’s nothing she can’t do.
What’s more, like Pugh, Zendaya is well-known to director Villeneuve thanks to her strong showing in Dune and Dune: Part Two.
She has also been produced by Pascal in several films, including last year's tennis drama, Challengers.
Outside candidates
Ana de Armas (7/4) has been there and done it in terms of appearing in a Bond movie, after starring as Paloma in No Time To Die - and she could be back for more.
Another collaborator of Villeneuve’s, de Armas appeared as the AI Joi in his 2017 film Blade Runner 2049.
Still, despite the high odds, Amazon looks set to completely reboot the James Bond franchise, meaning any returning characters from Daniel Craig’s era seem unlikely.
Rebecca Ferguson, who appeared in Villeneuve’s Dune and Dune: Part Two, has form in the spy genre, having starred in several Mission: Impossible films, and it wouldn't be a surprise if she reunited with the Dune filmmaker for his Bond debut.
She is 5/2 to do so, just behind Harry Potter star Emma Watson (2/1).
A superstar casting
Producer Heyman’s wide-ranging and hugely successful career has seen him cross paths with several talented actresses.
So, when casting the next Bond Girl, Heyman’s Barbie and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood collaborator, Margot Robbie, would be a fine choice.
Robbie is 3/1 to be the female lead in the next Bond movie, and half the price of outsider Saoirse Ronan (6/1), who could sneak further into contention.
Working in Ronan’s favour is the fact that, like Pugh and Zendaya, she is a young actress who would fit the mould of Amazon’s potential youthful 007.
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