Next James Bond: Surprise newcomer has odds slashed as bookies confirm 'drastic twist' to market
Daniel Craig has left the role of James Bond as a replacement remains to be announced
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A number of big names have been tipped to step into Bond's shoes following Daniel Craig's swansong in No Time to Die.
As such, bookmakers everywhere have had to frantically adjust their markets to cope with demand - and now there appears to be a new name tipped to bag the role.
Joining the likes of Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Rege-Jean Page among the frontrunners is British actor and producer Damson Idris.
The 31-year-old has appeared in a number of well-known small and big screen hits, including Black Mirror, The Commuter and Swarm.
However, he shot to global stardom thanks to his recurring role as Franklin Saint in FX's critically-acclaimed drama series Snowfall.
The actor is now placed as joint-second favourite to bag the role of Bond according to William Hill.
Damson Idris has emerged as frontrunner for Bond role
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Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said of the shift in betting: “There seems to have been another dramatic twist in our search for the next Bond, with Snowfall star Damson Idris a shock new addition to the list of favourites.
"The 31-year-old was only added to the betting on Tuesday at 5/1 but has since been backed into 3/1 by Thursday morning,
"(This means) only Aaron Taylor-Johnson (6/4) sits ahead of him in the odds."
Addressing the other names in the running, Phelps added: "The market is still however wide open, and all of Rege-Jean Page (3/1), James Norton (7/2) and Henry Cavill (4/1) are still deemed to be in with a chance.”
Oppenheimer's Cillian Murphy and Venom actor Tom Hardy are also priced as outsiders with odds of 7/1 each.
While Idris has only recently emerged as a frontrunner in the race for the role of Bond, he has addressed the possibility of taking on the spy persona before.
"Honestly, I credit [Bond rumours] to Idris Elba probably. It’s my last name," Idris joked during a conversation with Bustle.
He continued: "So I got to give him those flowers. ‘Oh, let’s get baby Idris if we can’t get big Idris,’ But I think people are just really encouraged by strong Black male leads.
"And it’s almost a compliment and a rite of passage really to be held to the esteem of some of these characters.
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Damson Idris is best known for his role in Snowfall
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"'Oh, man, you are tall, Black, handsome, and people gravitate to you, you should play James Bond, you should play Black Panther, you should play this, you should play that.’”
Idris has also addressed the fact that if he took on the part of Bond, he'd be the first Black actor to take on the role.
And he's well aware of the reception a Bond actor would receive, as he added: “It’s also a common consensus for you to hate Bond as soon as he’s cast.
"So that’s something that everyone’s prepared for too.
"Daniel Craig was absolutely annihilated. I think the headlines read, ‘Is the world ready for the first blond Bond?’ So imagine if he’s Black.
"So anyone who plays that part is prepared for that. But I always say, you keep quiet and let the work do the talking.”