I break betting odds news as it happens, so you’re never left behind when the market moves or a top offer lands.
- Screenwriter Steven Knight has confirmed an actor has now been cast to play James Bond in the 26th film, a reboot of the franchise he's currently writing.
- Jack Lowden remains the clear favourite among the betting sites at 5/6 (54.5% implied probability), with his odds slashed last month after Richard Osman named him on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast.
- Callum Turner sits next in the market at 6/4 (40.0%), with Jack Barton, Jack O'Connell, Theo James and Aaron Taylor-Johnson completing the current list of contenders.
Steven Knight Confirms Casting As Betting Sites React
Betting sites have plenty to work with this week after Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight confirmed that an actor has now been cast to play James Bond.
Knight told Radio 4's Today programme that he has been writing the 26th Bond film, a reboot of the franchise, with the actor now cast in mind. "It does make life a little bit easier if you know who that person is, but also you have to write the character, not the actor," he said.
The wait for confirmation has already run well over a year since Amazon MGM took creative control of the franchise, so any concrete movement is enough to send the market into a frenzy.
Jack Lowden's odds were slashed last month after Richard Osman revealed on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast that the Scottish actor was in strong contention.
"The name I've heard is Jack Lowden," Osman said. "It is definitively not a 'he's definitely got it' thing. He is definitely being strongly considered. I think he'd be amazing."
That single comment was enough to move Lowden from a mid-market outsider into the clear favourite almost overnight, a reminder of just how sensitive this particular market is to any credible insider information.
Entertainment Betting Sites: Best Bookmakers Compared on Reality TV, Entertainment and Novelty Bets
Next James Bond Odds
Lowden is now odds-on in the next Bond market, with some massive names featuring behind him.
| Next James Bond | Odds | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Lowden | 5/6 | 54.5% |
| Callum Turner | 6/4 | 40.0% |
| Jack Barton | 6/1 | 14.3% |
| Jack O'Connell | 8/1 | 11.1% |
| Theo James | 10/1 | 9.1% |
| Aaron Taylor-Johnson | 12/1 | 7.7% |
Jack Lowden's 5/6 price gives him an implied 54.5% chance of landing the role, putting him clear of the rest of the field following Osman's comments and Knight's confirmation that casting has been finalised.
Callum Turner is the next best fancied at 6/4 (40.0%), a name who's long been linked with the role and continues to hold a solid position in the betting behind Lowden.
Why Lowden's Price Continues To Shorten
Knight's confirmation that an actor is already cast adds real weight to a market that had, until Osman's comments, been fairly open.
Lowden's rise to favourite reflects both the specificity of that tip and his growing profile following a string of well-received performances in recent years, including his work in Slow Horses and on the big screen.
Whether Knight's remark that "you have to write the character, not the actor" is a subtle attempt to manage expectations or simply a screenwriter's honest reflection on the process, it hasn't cooled interest in Lowden as the man for the job.
Ever since Daniel Craig's tenure ended with No Time To Die, this market has rarely stayed still for long, with dozens of names cycling through the conversation over the past few years.
What the expert says...
Where To Bet On The Next James Bond
Markets like this tend to be covered across a decent spread of the betting sites, so it's worth shopping around for the best price rather than settling on the first one you find.
For a wider look at where else to open an account for markets like this, our guide to the best entertainment betting sites is worth a browse.
