James Bond fans are eagerly placing their bets when it comes to which actor will be the new 007 after Daniel Craig’s last outing in No Time To Die next year. In a surprise twist, the list of frontrunners for the job has seen a major shake-up over the past couple of days as Marvel star Chris Hemsworth has blasted into the top 10 from nowhere.
According to Ladbrokes, Hemsworth has thrashed former favourite Tom Hardy this week, with a staggering 70 per cent of all bets going on the Thor actor.
In comparison, Hardy accounted for just 12 per cent of bets, despite the fact Hemsworth was only installed by the bookies yesterday morning.
Having previously been nowhere to be seen, Hemsworth entered the running at 10-1.
Peaky Blinders star Hardy, meanwhile, is currently priced at 8-1, meaning he’s still looking more likely than Hemsworth to get that 007 title.
READ MORE: JAMES BOND: ‘I KISS ALL MY LEADING MEN’ CRAIG ON MALEK
It’s Outlander’s Sam Heughan who’s the bookies’ top tip for the next Bond, however, holding the lead at 5-2.
Close behind are James Norton, Richard Madden and Hemsworth’s Avengers co-star Tom Hiddleston, all on 5-1.
On an equal footing with Hardy is Michael Fassbender, while Hemsworth shares the 10-1 slot with Henry Golding, Idris Elba, Jack Lowden and Jamie Bell.
Let’s not forget the women though, as there’s still speculation fans could see the very first female Bond introduced after Craig’s exit.
Elsewhere, Craig appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last night, where he addressed his No Time To Die co-star Rami Malek’s comments about their kiss.
The Bohemian Rhapsody actor, who won an Oscar for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury earlier this year, previously revealed he and the 007 star had shared a kiss after having a breakthrough during a tough day of rehearsals.
“We had a scene that was a very complicated scene and we were rehearsing for it with our terrific director, Cary Fukunaga,” Malek said on the show.
“We are sitting at a table over hours, just batting about ideas back and forth, and we finally cracked this really challenging scene.
“[Craig] grabbed me and picked me up and — I can’t tell who initiated the next moment, if it was him or I, but a kiss transpired between us,” he continued, smiling cheekily. “I’m going to say that Daniel initiated it.
“I took a moment, caught my breath and I looked out and said, ’So, does this make me a Bond girl?’” he quipped.
Laughing about the moment during his own interview, Craig joked: “It was a lovely moment.
“I kiss all my leading men. I think it just breaks the ice.”
James Bond: No Time To Die will be released in UK cinemas April 3 2020.