A NETFLIX fan-favourite actor has become a surprise name in the hat to play the next James Bond.
The rumour mill has been continually whirring as to who will take on the iconic 007 role – with little-known actor Stuart Martin a recent actor in the frame.
Henry Cavill, Tom Hardy and Aaron Taylor-Johnson have all been tipped to replace Daniel Craig as the Secret Service agent.
And now a Netflix star of series-of-the-moment, Adolescence, is also in the running.
Bookmakers Coral have told how Kirkby-born TV star Stephen Graham, 51, has entered the line-up contenders, with his odds now shortened to 33-1.
Coral’s John Hill said: “Stephen Graham has played many roles in his career, and now he is being backed to become the iconic 007.
“We have slashed his odds in our next James Bond betting following support over the last couple of days.”
Stephen plays dad Eddie Miller in the gripping four-part series.
The show’s fearless depiction of knife crime in the UK has sparked national conversations, as rave reviews for the programme have rolled in.
Yet Stephen has a stellar back-catalogue of acting, previously appearing in the likes of This Is England, Snatch and Gangs Of New York.
Fans were also previously stunned to learn that Stephen’s real-life wife also has a huge role in the hard-hitting series.
[authenticated-scripts src=”%3Cscript%20class%3D%22palin-poll%22%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesun.co.uk%2Fpollingwidgets%2Fv3%2Fwidget.js%3Fquestion_id%3D109779%26game%3Dpolling%22%3E%3C%2Fscript%3E” type=”embedded” width=”100″ /]BRIT BOND
Recently, Bond franchise expert Mark O’Connell told how he believed fans will know the next suave spy’s identity by the summer.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Stephen Graham and Ashley Walters’ acclaimed drama Adolescence smashes huge Netflix record by DOUBLE after taking world by storm” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6370183265112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]Appearing on Nick Ferrari’s LBC radio show, he said he wanted Bond to remain British and favoured a non A-list name.
He said: “Henry Cavill could be back in the running now. Amazon’s choice could be different to the Broccolis. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, a new guy called Harris Dickinson, keep an eye on him.”
Days ago it was confirmed that Bond will still be a British man despite being sold to “woke” Hollywood streaming site Amazon.
Before giving up ownership of the popular film franchise, 007’s stewards Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson insisted the spy would retain his nationality and gender.
Ms Broccoli, who took over the Bond brand from company Eon Productions alongside Mr Wilson in 1995, made the arrangement before she agreed to sell the rights to Amazon in a £770million deal.
Insiders have hit back at fears the streaming giant – owned by Jeff Bezos – will turn Bond “woke”.
An insider told the Mail on Sunday: “Amazon is committed to keeping the spirit of Bond alive and that means he has to be British or from the Commonwealth – and he has to be male.”
Half-siblings Barbara Broccoli, 64, and Michael G Wilson, 83, took over the Bond franchise from their father and stepfather Albert ‘Cubby’ Broccoli – who bought the film rights from Bond creator Ian Fleming in 1961.
Since then there have been 25 movies – where Bond defeats villains bent on destruction, all while drinking martinis and seducing women.
