The race to be the next Bond appears to be heating up as experts believe a previous favourite may be running away with odds of becoming the next 007.
The update follows a potential clue spotted by eagle eyed fans during a new TV show.
Daniel Craig, 53, announced he due to hand up the tuxedo in 2021 following his final film No Time to Die.
Ever since, speculation on who will succeed him have swirled.
Bullet Train star Aaron Taylor-Johnson was long considered the frontrunner for the role in the years since the last Bond instalment.
Speculation grew to fever pitch as it emerged the 34-year-old had reportedly been “offered” the role.
Current Bond frontrunners Aaron Taylor-Johnson and James Norton
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However, Bond producers at Eon Productions and Amazon MGM poured cold water on the rumours by saying no decision had been made.
Taylor-Johnson previously held 11/10 odds of taking on the role but now a previous strong contender has usurped him in the top spot.
Happy Valley star James Norton, 39, has now stormed his way to the top of likely candidates to take his Vodka Martinis shaken not stirred.
According to experts from Sportscasting, Norton now holds 2/1 odds of becoming the next Bond, shortening massively since his previous 5/1 chances.
Norton is currently starring in ITV’s Playing Nice
ITV
Sportscasting’s Andy Newton believes “there could be something in the latest James Norton grapevine gossip.”
He added that was “not shocked” to see the traders putting their money on the former Grantchester star.
The source of the Norton surge appears to originate from a potential clue spotted by fan sleuths during one of Norton’s new projects.
While watching ITV’s parental drama Playing Nice, eagle eyed fans noticed a key costume detail that they believe reveals Norton is soon to be named as the next 007.
In the series’ third episode. Norton’s character Pete Riley is seen attending a swanky black tie gala event.
However, in a scene replete with men in tuxedos, Norton was the only one seen without – instead wearing a simple suit.
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fans noticed Norton was not wearing a tuxedo in Playing Nice
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Hosts of the Talk Of The Townsends podcast, Benedict and Hannah Townsend, explained to their followers that “every James Bond has in their contract they cannot wear a tuxedo in any other media while they are James Bond.”
They felt confident his character’s lack of black tier suggested he may have already signed up to be 007.
However, they added a caveat to their prediction that “his character is meant to be sort of humbled, so it could just be some kind of character-related wardrobe.”
According to Sportscasting, the most likely names in contention are Josh O’Connor (4/1), Theo James (5/1) and Paul Mescal (11/2).