The likes of Damson Idris, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Cillian Murphy and Co have a new actor to contend with in the race to land the role of James Bond, GB News has learned.
It's been four long years since Daniel Craig announced he'd be leaving 007's tux behind him in 2021's No Time to Die and yet fans are none the wiser as to who they'll see on screens next.
Rumours have been rife as to who the next lead actor would be ever since as Barbara Broccoli and the team at Eon mull over their plans to "modernise" Bond for today's audiences.
There have been calls for a "black", "female", or "black and female" Bond to emerge while fans have shared fears the franchise could go "woke" after rumoured Bond 26 director Christopher Nolan ruled himself out of helming the next film.
Even Succession star Brian Cox, who stepped into the Bond world in Amazon's 007: Road To A Million, has defended Bond over "outdated" claims.
But now, fans of Normal People are in for a treat as the latest actor to emerge as a likely candidate for the part amid the ever-changing rumour mill is none other than Paul Mescal.
Daniel Craig left the role of Bond way back in 2019
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Releasing, Forum Film Poland
The actor is currently gearing up to star in the hotly-anticipated Gladiator sequel but that's not stopped one of his co-stars publicly admitting he'd like to see him don the Bond persona.
Mescal's All of Us Strangers co-star Andrew Scott said in a recent interview with Variety: "He’d probably be a great James Bond, I want to see him in Gladiator first."
The glowing endorsement from Scott, who brilliantly portrayed C in 2015's Spectre, has now led to a shift to the Next James Bond markets.
Lee Astley, Head of News for BettingSites.co.uk, said of Mescal's entry to bookmakers' markets: "There are strong rumours that ‘Normal People’ star Paul Mescal is being lined up to be the next James Bond.
Could Paul Mescal be the next man to play James Bond?
GETTY
"He is a brand new entry into the market and straight in at fourth favourite 5/1.
"Fleabag star Andrew Scott has been quoted as saying, ‘He’d probably be a great James Bond’."
At 5/1, Mescal has entered the running ahead of the likes of long-standing frontrunners James Norton, Henry Cavill, Paapa Essiedu and Cillian Murphy.
However, he isn't quite the outright favourite as that title currently belongs to Snowfall star Damson Idris.
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Andrew Scott (right) has endorsed Paul Mescal (left) for the role
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Idris is priced at 3/1 to be unveiled as Craig's successor when the time comes.
Kick-Ass star Aaron Taylor-Johnson is close behind at 7/2 while Bridgerton heart-throb Rege-Jean Page follows with 4/1 odds.
