Congratulations are in order for Bridgerton star Regé-Jean Page, Netflix’s latest walking thirst trap. The British actor has been such a hit as the insouciant, brow-raising Duke of Hastings on the wildly popular new series that he’s been vaunted into the next phase in his career: becoming a new betting favorite to play James Bond.
Like Paul Mescal (Normal People) and Richard Madden (Bodyguard) before him, Page’s newfound popularity on a hot TV show has raised his odds in the eyes of bettors, according to British betting firm Ladbrokes, Variety reports. He’s currently 5/1 in the betting; before Bridgerton’s Christmas Day release, he was 40/1. You can see this for him, can’t you? As the Duke of Hastings, Page has proven he can do the handsome, mysterious rake-about-town thing. He can wear fancy clothes and sip fancy drinks. He’s also resourceful, turning everyday objects into weapons of sudden, extreme interest. He may not have proven his mettle in action scenes, but maybe the next Bond should be more of a flâneur anyway.
Daniel Craig is currently finishing out his sentence as 007, wrapping up his beloved, more than billion-dollar run with the upcoming No Time to Die. The film—the 25th installment in the franchise—was previously slated to hit theaters in 2020, but has been pushed to April 2021 due to the pandemic. With that film’s release now practically around the corner, bettors say the announcement of a new Bond should be imminent. The current, longtime favorite is still Tom Hardy, who’s maintained betting odds for years now—but that doesn’t mean newbies like Page should lose all hope.
“What strengthens RJP’s chances somewhat more is that an announcement feels seemingly imminent [around] Daniel Craig’s replacement, so the timing of Bridgerton’s success may well have worked in his favor,” Ladbrokes representative Alex Apati tells Variety.
Timing certainly is everything, a fact that’s been proven time and time again in Bond world. Just think: if a new Bond had been cast in, say, 2016, we could be knee-deep in a Tom Hiddleston–led series of films. Or Cillian Murphy, or Sam Heughan, or (most importantly!) Idris Elba—who inspired such fervent support from fans that it’s a wonder Bond brass didn’t cave and cast him immediately. He also would have been the first Black Bond in franchise history. Sigh. What could have been.
Page could, however, nab that historic honor if he’s cast as 007. Still, it remains to be seen if the betting odds are anything more than grist for the sexy Bond-casting rumor mill.
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