The popular actor has long been tipped to take over from Daniel Craig in the iconic role, once the Brit’s work on the upcoming 25th instalment is done and dusted. But while that speculation has often come from bookies, and producers have been allegedly holding off from starting their formal search, a fresh report implies Madden is indeed being actively considered.
A producer on the hit BBC drama Bodyguard was speaking to Mail Online when he revealed that a second season may not happen.
The reason? A certain iconic spy.
“We don’t know if Richard will do a series two,” he revealed.
And in a comment the publication calls “unprompted”, he added: “It depends what happens with James Bond, we don’t know yet.”
Each time a new TV drama begins, containing thriller elements and a leading man in a suit, the Bond speculation kicks off with bookmakers. To begin with, Madden seemed to be no different.
But is he actually becoming a legitimate frontrunner to play the spy?
For now, it seems we’re still a long way off from an announcement being made: Craig’s last hurrah is not out for more than a year yet.
Tom Hiddleston remains the very narrow favourite: he’s on 2/1 with Ladbrokes, and Madden is a hairline behind on 3/1.
Other contenders include James Norton, also on 3/1, and Idris Elba and Tom Hardy on 4/1 – despite Elba’s repeated insistence that it won’t be him.
“Any female” can be backed on 12/1, and Cillian Murphy is on 20/1.
Production on Bond 25 starts in March, and last week it emerged that the Norwegian Film Institute has granted bosses a huge financial incentive to film there.
The film is out on February 14, 2020.