Who is Damson Idris and Why Oddsmakers Think He's the New James Bond

Summary

• Today you can find many actors that people would like to see as the next James Bond.
• The bookmakers have their own tops, where some names are more surprising than others.
• For example, Damson Idris is not a household name, but he fits the profile perfectly.

The chatter about who will play James Bond next seems to never end. Ever since Daniel Craig announced his departure from the double-oh-seven franchise, the Internet has been buzzing with rumors and suggestions about who should portray the iconic British secret agent next.

Everyone seems to have their own candidate in mind, from big names like Henry Cavill and Idris Elba to relatively unknown actors. The best way to find out who the frontrunners are in this race is to look at the oddsmakers' ratings. After all, who does the best research if not a person betting their own money?

Odds-on Favorites

There are a few requirements for the stars in the running to play James Bond. Reportedly, the producers are looking for someone who can commit to at least three films, which means someone relatively young - in their 30s.

Also, the actor should be accomplished but not too famous.

Despite these rules, many of the bookmakers' top choices include Henry Cavill and Tom Hardy. But their absolute favorite is Aaron Taylor-Johnson, whose chances of being unveiled as the next 007 skyrocketed after The Sun reported in March that the actor had received an official offer from the James Bond producers.

While this hasn't been made public, there are still chances that other actors could win the race. For example, there is at least one candidate who is highly rated by the bookmakers and could indeed be a refreshing addition to the franchise - Damson Idris.

Who is Damson Idris and where have you seen him?

Damson Idris seems to fit perfectly into the profile created by the producers. He is 32, born in Peckham, and recognizable, although some viewers may find it hard to remember where exactly they saw him.

Idris became a notable name in the industry after his role as budding drug dealer Franklin Saint in the acclaimed FX crime drama Snowfall, which aired its finale last year. He can also be seen in a co-lead role in Netflix's 2021 Outside the Wire, as well as starring in Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje's 2018 film Farming.

Black Mirror fans will recognize him as Jaden, the young man taken hostage by Andrew Scott's character in the episode Smithereens.

Why are oddsmakers backing Damson Idris?

Even though the odds are not in Damson Idris' favor (currently at 9/2), there are still people who are betting on him to be the next James Bond. The reason is that throughout his decade-long career, Idris has proven himself to be an extremely versatile actor. Not to mention that he is a handsome man with an undeniable Bond-like charm.

What's more, the actor confirmed that he wouldn't mind taking on the legendary role.

'It's an iconic character,' he once told HipHollywood. 'I don't know, do I look like I could play Bond? Oh brilliant, well maybe it could happen. Who knows?'

If Damson Idris were to get cast, it would come as a surprise, but a pleasant one. He certainly feels like the perfect choice to bring change to the franchise as the first Black actor to play the iconic secret agent.

Source: The Sun, HipHollywood.