Next James Bond favourite Emily In Paris star ‘impresses 007 bosses’

Naomi Harris says Tom Hardy is too established for James Bond

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Broccoli and her half-brother Michael G Wilson are the gatekeepers of the Bond franchise, the producers who made the bold decision to hire Daniel Craig and granted his request that his incarnation of the spy should die in his final outing, ironically (?) titled No Time To Die. It is, however, now time to start looking to what comes next. Broccoli has been clear that it will not be a woman who steps into that Aston Martin, but she did say: “We want the actor to be British. (That’s) the key thing. And British, as we know, can be many, many things.” And a new report describes her delight with a young British star.

With reports that the producers are also seeking actors under 40, suddenly major favourites like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba and even Henry Cavill (who turns 40 this year) are ageing out of contention.

Craig himself was a left-field choice, not a household name like Roger Moore or Pierce Brosnan in their day. And it looks likely the franchise will do the same again.

Just before Christmas, reports had emerged that 32-year-old Marvel and Bullet Train star Aaron Taylor-Johnson had nailed a strong screen test. However, he has the high profile lead role in Marvel’s upcoming Kraven The Hunter, which hits cinemas this October.

Instead, an even younger TV star might be the new hot favourite…

Emily in Paris star Lucien Laviscount, 30, has surged out of nowhere in the UK bookies lists over the weekend. The show has immeasurably raised his profile internationally after finding early UK fame in Grange Hill and Coronation Street. 

On Sunday a story broke in the national press bout his Bond bid: “Lucien ticks all of the boxes. He is a super talented actor, is extremely handsome and in the past 18 months has won lots of new fans since he joined Emily in Paris. Bond bosses are already saying how you can see him in the 007 tuxedo, how dapper and fitting to the role he will look.”

In response, Laviscount’s odds tumbled overnight, thrusting him among the A-list frontrunners.

Previously he was a rank outsider on the standard 100/1 odds. Now he has slammed past Idris Elba on Skybet and past previous leaders Cillian Murphy and Sam Heughan on Betfred after a flurry of bets.

Betfred and Skybet both have Laviscount on 12/1, with the former showing Taylor-Johnson out front on 7/4 closely followed by Cavill on 9/4. Bridgerton’s Rege-Jean Page is on 11/2, with James Norton on 7/1 and Tom Hardy on 9/1.

Betfred has the same three in the lead, with Taylor-Johnson on 2/1, Cavill on 9/4 and Page on 3/1. Norton sits at 9/2 and Tom Hardy and Dan Evans on 6/1.

Source: Read Full Article