James Bond Odds: Sophie Rundle And Emma Mackey Frontrunners For Moneypenny Role
James Bond super-fans have been waiting patiently for further updates about the iconic film franchise, but Steven Knight has been thoroughly enjoying himself with the script.
The Peaky Blinders creator recently admitted he is having a "fantastic time" penning the screenplay for 007's next outing, and competition on betting sites has been heating up regarding who will next play Eve Moneypenny.
Naomie Harris is the latest star to play Moneypenny, who is previously known as Miss Moneypenny and is the secretary to M, Bond's superior, in the latest three Bond films - No Time to Die, Spectre and Skyfall.
Amazon MGM Studios has since taken over creative control of the franchise and appointed Knight to write the next movie, which will be directed by Denis Villeneuve and produced by David Heyman and Amy Pascal.
Bond Bosses To Play A Blinder?
News of Knight's appointment may have been well received by several Peaky Blinders stars who are hoping to land a part in the new Bond movie.
Knight's recent movie, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, hit the big screen and Netflix in March, and one of the stars of the TV series and subsequent film could soon be rubbing shoulders with 007.
Sophie Rundle is 6/4 favourite on betting apps to be the next Moneypenny.
As Peaky Blinders character Ada Thorne, she does a fantastic job of keeping Cillian Murphy's lead character Tommy Shelby in check, and she could do the same to Bond in his next outing.
Rundle has also previously admitted she would love to be part of a Bond film.
Speaking to the i Paper in 2016 about the possibility of a female James Bond, she said: "Oh my God, I would love that. I’d like to see someone like Tilda Swinton play it.
"Women are just as talented as men, and they bring different things to roles.
"I’d love to see a female James Bond because the actress is extraordinary."
Rundle would no doubt be an extraordinary Moneypenny, but so might her Peaky Blinders co-stars Aimee-Ffion Edwards (5/2) and Annabelle Wallis (3/1).
With Knight at the writing helm, he could put in a good word for either.
Moneypenny Mackey
Sex Education star Emma Mackey is one of several stars who will be strong competition for Rundle.
She is in contention for the role at 7/4 and is well known to Pascal.
The producer has worked alongside Mackey in the fantasy film Narnia: The Magician's Nephew, which is due to drop in November.
Mackey will play Jadis, the White Witch, in the motion picture, and if she impresses Pascal with her acting skills, she could be in the conversation to land a role in the next Bond movie.
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
Elsewhere, Florence Pugh is 7/2 to be the next Moneypenny.
Villeneuve knows all about her talents, having cast her in his sci-fi epic Dune: Part Three after she reprised her role from the second film in the franchise.
However, there is someone who knows the Moneypenny role better than anyone.
Harris (6/1) has portrayed the character three times already, and it's not a done deal that she won't return to utter the famous line: "Good evening, Mr Bond."
Next Actress To Play Moneypenny:
Actress | Odds | Probability |
Sophie Rundle | 6/4 | 40% |
Emma Mackey | 7/4 | 36.4% |
Alison Oliver | 15/8 | 34.8% |
Phoebe Dynevor | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Aimee-Ffion Edwards | 5/2 | 28.6% |
Annabelle Wallis | 3/1 | 25% |
Florence Pugh | 7/2 | 22.2% |
Juno Temple | 4/1 | 20% |
Jodie Turner-Smith | 9/2 | 18.2% |
Meg Bellamy | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Naomie Harris | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Mia McKenna-Bruce | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Kaya Scodelario | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Moneypenny's New Heights
Amazon MGM Studios might want a new star to take on the role, and Alison Oliver is well-known to the studio.
She had a breakout movie role in Saltburn, which also helped to launch the career of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man star Barry Keoghan.
Keoghan recently issued a come-and-get-me plea to Bond bosses to cast him as a villain in the next movie, and if Knight was listening, he could be writing that part as we read.
Keoghan's Saltburn co-star Oliver may also be in contention to appear in the movie, as Eve Moneypenny.
Her 15/8 price may soon decrease if Knight puts in a good word, but he may not need to.
All Bond bosses need to do is watch Oliver's performance in the romantic period drama film Wuthering Heights, which featured her Saltburn co-star Jacob Elordi.
Other stars who are no strangers to period dramas are former Bridgerton actress Phoebe Dynevor and The Crown's Meg Bellamy.
Dynevor is just 2/1 to be the next Moneypenny, while Bellamy is a 5/1 shot.
Ted Lasso star Juno Temple (4/1) - well known to Pascal, after appearing in her 2024 movie Venom: The Last Dance - and The Agency actress Jodie Turner-Smith (9/2) are also in contention.
* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.
Who do you think would be best to take on the Moneypenny role? Let us know in the comments below!
