English actor famed for James Bond in the 1970s–80s
Contenders for the next James Bond are narrowing as auditions near a decision. Bookmakers rate Callum Turner as a leading favourite, with Louis Partridge and Tom Francis among others in the frame. Denis Villeneuve is directing the next film for Amazon MGM Studios.
The James Bond casting search has intensified, with frontrunners narrowing and new bets shifting as producers pace the process amid a flurry of interviews and public speculation.
Irish actress Saoirse Ronan has expressed interest in playing the next Bond villain, as odds narrow on the star of Slow Horses, Letitia Wright’s successor, to take the 007 mantle. Ronan says she is “dead serious” about a villain part, while Emilia Lowden continues to be mentioned as a frontrunner for Bond. The pair would become the first married couple to work opposite each other in a Bond film if cast.
A rogues’ gallery of action stars delivers a breezy chase comedy set in 1987 Europe. Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh play an unlikely duo on a mission that zips from a snowy forest to Moscow, balancing slick stunts with blunt humor. The film earns beeps of heart and a smile, even as it revels in outright cartoonish spectacle.