Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey among bookies’ favourites to play James Bond
He's already played one dashing leading man so it makes sense.
Words: Alastair James; pictures: Netflix and Attitude
Bridgerton‘s Jonathan Bailey is moving up in the list of bookies favorites as to which actor will take over the role of 007 himself, James Bond.
On Monday (29 August) the Cock actor’s odds halved, according to BoyleSports, from 40/1 when he was introduced as a potential candidate to 20/1 placing him in eighth place.
The top pick is Man of Steel star Henry Cavill (9/4 from 7/2), with Jonathan’s Bridgerton season one co-star Rege-Jean Page (4/1 from 2/1) taking the number two spot.
Other contenders for the role of 007 include familiar names such as Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, and Aidan Turner. Daniel Craig’s run as the British spy concluded with No Time To Die.
Sarah Kinsella, a spokesperson for BoyleSports, says: “Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey has been backed into 20/1 from 40/1 to be the one who replaces Daniel Craig and be cast as the next James Bond. He has only been in the betting a few days, but we are already seeing plenty of support so it would be no surprise if his odds shorten further.”
Jonathan being eyed by punters as a potential James Bond should come as little surprise given his status as leading man material following the first two seasons of the Netflix Regency-era set drama.
He plays Viscount Anthony Bridgerton, stepping into the lead role for the second, which saw his character embroiled in a love triangle with Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) and her younger sister Edwina (Charithra Chandran).
He has also recently been seen on the West End stage in Cock as John, a man struggling with his identity and navigating his relationship with his boyfriend, M (Joel Harper-Jackson) after beginning a relationship with a woman ‘W’ (Jade Anouka).
He has also been touted for Bond by No Time to Die‘s actor Ben Whishaw, who previously told Attitude it would be “quite an extraordinary thing” if an out gay actor was cast as Bond for the first time and a sign of “real progress” for the film industry.
Of Bailey specifically, he said it was “ideal casting”.
Bailey has also been cast opposite Magic Mike‘s Matt Bomer as a love interest in a new romance drama and political thriller, Fellow Travelers. He is also set to star opposite The Theory of Everything’s Felicity Jones in the Simon Amsetll comedy, Maria.
So could Jonathan be too busy for Bond…
Check out BoylesSports odds for the next ‘James Bond’ after Daniel Craig:
9-4 Henry Cavill
4 Rege-Jean Page
5 Idris Elba
5 Tom Hardy
7 Aidan Turner
10 Chiwetel Ejiofor
10 James Norton
12 Jonathan Bailey
16 Michael Fassbender
20 Tom Hooper
20 Cillian Murphy
20 Jonathan Bailey
20 Jamie Dornan
20 Callum Turner
20 Sam Heughan
20 Jack Lowden
25 Richard Madden
25 Jamie Bell
33 Luke Evans
33 Henry Golding
40 Tom Hiddleston
50 Chris Hemsworth
66 Barry Keoghan
66 Paul Mescal
66 Jack Huston
66 Benedict Cumberbatch
100 Matt Damon
100 Clive Owen
100 Jack O’Connell
100 James Purefoy
100 Tyson Fury
100 Tom Ellis
100 Colin Farrell
The Attitude September/October issue is out now.
