Michelle Keegan and Maya Jama are reportedly in the running to become the next Bond Girl.
Bookies say the Fool Me Once actress and the Love Island presenter are favourites to take on the iconic role in the spy thriller.
They would follow in the footsteps of actors like Ursula Andress, Michelle Yeoh, Halle Berry and more recently Léa Seydoux, who have all played companions of the secret agent in the franchise.
It comes as Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 33, has reportedly signed onto four James Bond films replacing Daniel Craig.
Maya’s odds have suddenly been slashed in half and are now at 5-1 while Michelle has seen hers reduced to 4-5 after it was revealed the TV star is keen to take on a massive film role.
Michelle Keegan and Maya Jama are reportedly in the running to become the next Bond Girl
Bookies have said that the Fool Me Once actress and the Love Island presenter are set to go head to head for the iconic role in the spy thriller
Coral’s John Hill said: ‘Many punters believe Michelle Keegan will join Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the next Bond film as the female lead.
‘The Fool Me Once star is now odds-on in our betting to be involved. But we have also seen some outside support for Maya Jama. The Love Island presenter has had her odds slashed in half to be the female lead.’
Maya Jama previously presented her BBC Radio 1 show for two years from 2018 before taking over from Laura Whitmore as the latest Love Island presenter.
Meanwhile Michelle played Tina McIntyre in Coronation Street from 2007 until 2013 before being killed off. She has also starred in BBC drama Our Girl, ITV’s Tina and Bobby, Sky One’s comedy-drama Brassic, BBC’s Ten Pound Poms and Netflix’s Fool Me Once.
It comes after it was reported that Aaron could be getting himself a license to kill in four James Bond films after ‘endless discussions’ with studio execs – who insiders claim are hoping he can replace Daniel Craig to lead the franchise into a new-age with a ‘fantasy’ twist.
Producer Barbara Broccoli, 63, is not considering anyone else, according to insiders, who have claimed costume fittings for Aaron are already underway.
‘It is all in the details and agents and lawyers are going through all the red tape and how many movies Aaron will sign up for.
It comes as it was reported that Aaron Taylor-Johnson is on the verge of signing a deal to become the next James Bond – and has been offered a four movie deal, insiders claim
The 33-year-old actor is reportedly set to take over the role of 007 from Daniel Craig (pictured), who bowed out from the franchise after 2021’s No Time To Die
‘It is currently looking to be a three-picture deal with the option of a fourth.
‘They have done all the fittings, they have the haircut they have in mind for him, and he’s already in tremendous shape.
‘Barbara Broccoli and the rest of the producers are going to make a huge deal out of the announcement.’
According to the insider, an event will be held where the remaining living Bonds – including George Lazenby, 84, Timothy Dalton, 78, Pierce Brosnan, 70, and Daniel, 56 – will be asked to attend to pass on the torch.
DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Aaron for comment.
James Bond has been thrilling cinema-goers worldwide with his adrenaline-fuelled secret missions to exotic places for more than 60 years.
The British spy, codenamed 007, has found himself fighting villains and terrorists on the moon, under water and at the top of a skyscraper.
And since his big screen debut in 1962, only six actors have played Bond (seven, if you include the portrayal of 007 by Peter Sellers in 1967’s comedy spoof ‘Casino Royal’).
The hunt is now on to find the latest Bond, with front-runners including Tom Hardy, Henry Cavill and Cillian Murphy. Now, we look back at all the previous actors to star as 007.
Sean Connery: 1962-1971
Sean Connery was the first Bond to hit the big screen in a dashing debut as 007
The first star to hit the screen as Bond was the devastatingly charming Sean Connery, starring in 1962’s Dr. No.
The acclaimed Scotsman went on to feature in five more Bond flicks, before retiring as 007 in 1971’s Diamonds are Forever.
George Lazenby: 1969
He may only have had one outing as James Bond, was met with a mixed reception
However, George Lazenby made his only appearance as the British spy in 1969’s 007 On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Roger Moore: 1977-1985
Roger Moore was one of the longest-serving Bonds, featuring in seven films
Roger Moore became the next Bond, featuring in seven films from 1977’s Live and Let Die, to his final outing in 1985’s A View to a Kill.
Moore’s turn as 007 brought without some outlandish and ludicrous plot lines, which featured him battling on the moon in Moonraker.
Timothy Dalton: 1985-1989
Timothy Dalton was next to take on the mantle, debuting as Bond in 1987’s The Living Daylights.
Timothy Dalton was next to take on the mantle, debuting as Bond in 1987’s The Living Daylights.
Dalton’s portrayal brought a gritter and more serious Bond to the screen, with a darker sense of humour.
He featured in one more Bond film, A Licence to Kill, in 1989 before being replaced.
Pierce Brosnan: 1995-2002
Pierce Brosnan was the next bond, debuting in 1995’s Goldeneye
It took six years for Dalton’s replacement, Pierce Brosnan, to get his outing in the 1995 smash-hit Golden Eye.
Brosnan went on to do three more Bond films during his seven-year stint as 007, which wound with Die Another Die in 2002.
Daniel Craig: 2006-2021
Daniel Craig’s take on Bond saw a beefed up version of the British spy taking to the screens (pictured in-character in 2020)
Daniel Craig stepped Bond’s in 2006 with a cinematic reset of the titular spy, replacing the gadgetry of previous installments with a grittier and more muscular reinvention of 007.
His opening portrayal of a more haunted Bond in his debut film, Casino Royal, was critically celebrated – hailed as one of the best Bonds in years.
Craig would feature in four more films before finally downing his last Martini – shaken, not stirred – in 2021’s No Time To Die, becoming the first Bond to be killed on screen.
