Bond's Following Antagonist Probabilities: Jared Leto and Zendaya Hold Top Positions Following Director Announcement
In the world of espionage and intrigue, the race to find the perfect actor to take on the iconic role of the James Bond villain is heating up. With the upcoming 26th Bond film on the horizon, bookmakers have released their odds for the top contenders, providing a fascinating insight into the potential antagonists that could challenge 007 in his next outing.
Leading the pack is Cillian Murphy, best known for his role in "Oppenheimer," with odds of 9/2 and an implied probability of 18.2%. His recent rise in prominence has fuelled speculation that he could step into the shoes of a formidable villain, following in the footsteps of iconic Bond adversaries such as Auric Goldfinger and Jaws.
Other strong contenders include Paul Giamatti, David Dastmalchian, Zendaya, Giancarlo Esposito, and Helena Bonham Carter, all with odds ranging between 11/2 and 15/2, equating to probabilities of between 15.4% and 11.8%.
While the official casting for the villain has not been confirmed yet, these actors currently lead the bookmakers' markets ahead of the filming of Bond 26, expected within the next year.
Interestingly, Jared Leto, who was directed by Denis Villeneuve in Suicide Squad, is a 125 favourite to be the next male Bond villain. This could provide stiff competition for the role, given that Villeneuve has been enlisted as the director of the next James Bond film.
Meanwhile, Florence Pugh is in contention for a role in the next 007 movie, either as a Bond villain or as the female lead. Emily Blunt could face competition from Zendaya and Pugh for a role in the film.
Zendaya, who has worked with Villeneuve in Dune and Dune: Part Two, and with Amy Pascal in several movies including Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Spider-Man: No Way Home, is a 162.5 favourite on betting apps to be the next female Bond villain. Stellan Skarsgard, who appears in both Dune films, is 162.5 third favourite to land a part in the next Bond movie.
Rachel Weisz is 400 to land a Bond villain role, while Colin Farrell and Jude Law, both of whom have worked with David Heyman on Fantastic Beasts, are also in contention for a role in the next Bond movie.
Finally, it has been confirmed that Daniel Craig will not play the suave spy in the next James Bond film. The identity of the next Bond remains a mystery, but the race to find the perfect villain is certainly shaping up to be a thrilling one.
In the realm of entertainment news, casino-themed sports-betting apps have listed Cillian Murphy as the second-favorite to play the villain in the upcoming 26th James Bond film, with odds of 9/2, essentially implying a nearly 18.2% chance of his selection. On the sports side, the bookies have tipped Zendaya as a 162.5 favorite to portray the next female Bond villain, a role she could potentially contest with Florence Pugh.
