James Bond shock as Brit star ‘set to sign up as next 007’ say bookies after sudden 24 hour rush of bets on him
THE next James Bond will be Brit star Aaron Taylor-Johnson, according to bookies.
We revealed in November how the Kick Ass star had become front-runner after an impressive screen test and now leading bookmaker Coral has had an influx of money put on the 32-year-old.
Aaron is the 2-1 favourite to be the next 007 following the strong support in the last 24 hours.
Happy Valley villain James Norton is second best at 5-2 in their market, while Superman Henry Cavill is 3-1 and Tom Hardy and Richard Madden are both 7-1.
Coral’s John Hill said: “There has been a surge of support behind Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the last 24 hours in our next James Bond betting.
“It’s clear that punters have made their minds up over who they think should replace Daniel Craig.”
He is a relative unknown compared with others tipped to replace Daniel Craig, who hung up his tux after five 007 films.
But sources said Aaron, who starred in the Kick-Ass films, Avengers: Age of Ultron and 2014’s Godzilla, impressed Bond franchise boss Barbara Broccoli in his trial at Pinewood Studios.
One insider said: “Aaron went for a screen test to be the next Bond in September and producers and Barbara loved him.
“He is now one of the front-runners.”
Aaron, from High Wycombe, Bucks, got his break-through in 2009 John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy — later marrying the film’s director Sam Taylor-Johnson, 55.
Speculation about Craig’s successor has been rife, with Tom Hardy, James Norton and Idris Elba among those said to be in the frame.
Aaron’s career debut came in the 2001 series Armadillo and the young star went on to feature in hit TV shows like The Bill and Casualty.