Newcomers contend with acting veterans in the search for the next James Bond. Joining the list of 007 candidates is Scott Rose-Marsh, a breakout fan favorite at online betting sites.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson is still favored to become the next 007 (per Oddschecker), but a lesser-known actor just joined the betting slots. Scott Rose-Marsh is a relative newcomer, but his prospects are promising. As of Jul. 12, Rose-Marsh's odds are 11/8 at Betfair, better than Taylor-Johnson's 2 and Henry Cavill's 1/10. Rose-Marsh only has a handful of minor roles to his credit, most recently in 2022's Wolves of War and TV's The Outlaws. To date, no actor has been confirmed as an official Bond candidate.

Theo James, Tom Holland, Paddy Gibson, Jack Lowden, and Aaron Pierre are also frontrunners, the latter rumored as a serious contender for 007's spot. The franchise has a history of casting relative unknowns to play Bond, like George Lazenby and Timothy Dalton. Daniel Craig and Sean Connery were already established actors when they were cast, but their careers skyrocketed after inheriting the role. That should improve Pierre, Gibson, and Rose Marsh's odds.

With director Denis Villeneuve confirmed to helm the 26th Bond installment, anticipation is at an all-time high for the casting. The untitled next film is projected for a 2028 release; insiders assert Amazon and producers prefer a British actor under 30 for the part (Rose-Marsh is 37); Holland and Harris Dickinson (both 29) are top contenders. That's still to be confirmed, but if true, the requirement would put Taylor-Johnson and Cavill out of the running (they're 35 and 42, respectively). Idris Elba, 52, has repeatedly dodged questions about his chances.