Next James Bond odds slashed on Casino Royale auditions runner up | Films | Entertainment

Amy Pascal is one of the new James Bond producers and recently let slip that Daniel Craig’s replacement as 007 will be announced by the end of the year. Rumour has it that a secret second round of auditions is underway this month. But just who exactly is new casting director Nina Gold (The Crown, Game of Thrones) considering for Bond alongside fellow judges director Denis Villeneuve and screenwriter Steven Knight? If the bookies’ odds are to be believed, the runner-up for Casino Royale 21 years ago is in with a great chance once again.

Take it all with a pinch of salt, but William Hill has Henry Cavill cut from 20-1 to 3-1 after a flood of bets came his way in the last 24 hours. The former Superman has long been a fan-favourite pick for the next Bond. He may be 43, but Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Dalton and Roger Moore were all in their early-to-mid forties when they took on the role.

Speaking exclusively with the Daily Express a couple of years ago, Casino Royale director Martin Campbell said of Cavill’s Bond audition: “He looked great in the audition. His acting was tremendous. And look, if Daniel didn’t exist Henry would have made an excellent Bond. He looked terrific, he was in great physical shape… very handsome, very chiselled. He just looked a little young at that time back then.”

Cavill is currently second in the bookies’ race to be cast as the next Bond, with Callum Turner odds on at 11/10. Also in their running are Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jack Lowden on 6/1, Harris Dickinson on 8/1, Louis Partridge on 10/1 and Jacob Elordi on 12/1.