Fans may think that the James Bond race is already run with Aaron Taylor-Johnson far out in front, but Netflix star Jonathan Bailey has just received a boost as new favourite for the role. The Bridgerton heart-throb, 36, stormed to stardom in the period drama in 2020 as regency rake Viscount Anthony Bridgerton , who set pulses racing as the male lead in 2022’s season two opposite Simone Ashley’s Kate Sharma. Prior to this he had been working steadily on other major shows like BBC satire W1A and ITV thriller Broadchurch, as well as to great acclaim on the stage.
However, following Bridgerton, he has also made a major splash in US LQBTQ+ romantic drama Fellow Travellers with Matt Bomer in 2023 – and movie-stardom beckons thanks to parts in one of the most anticipated films of 2024 and a major franchise. But now it appears he’s also a hot contender for the open position of 007, whose licence to kill has been unclaimed since Daniel Craig ’s final turn as Bond in 2021’s No Time To Die. Recent movement at the bookies have slotted him into the top three most likely contenders to play the next James Bond, above his former co-star.
According to the latest Coral betting, supplied exclusively to Metro.co.uk , the star has re-entered the race and seen his odds slashed from 10/1 to just 4/1.
This means he has pushed in ahead of the likes of long-term contender James Norton at 5/1, as well as Taron Egerton and other new favourite Leo Woodall , who are both now at 6/1, with The .
