Next Bond Villain Odds: Saoirse Ronan And Paul Mescal In Contention

James Bond bosses are yet to give the green light to any concrete news about the next film, but that has only increased speculation on betting sites about who the next Bond villain might be.
There are some huge boots to fill after Christoph Waltz and Rami Malek both put in monstrous performances as Blofeld and Lyutsifer Safin respectfully in the last Bond movie, No Time To Die.
Javier Bardem, Mads Mikkelsen, Robert Carlyle, Jonathan Pryce, Sean Bean and Christopher Lee are among those who have all gone up against the suave spy in past movies.
What's more, character Rosa Klebb - who was played by Lotte Lenya - was the first female Bond villain when she appeared in 1957 movie From Russia, With Love.
Klebb remains one of only two female characters who served as the main villain in a Bond film.
The other was Sophie Marceau's character Elektra King in 1999 Bond movie The World Is Not Enough.
Several other female characters have played smaller villain roles, including A View To A Kill's May Day - who was portrayed by Grace Jones - and Eva Green's Vesper Lynd, in 2006 film Casino Royale.
But could we see a third main female Bond villain when the next movie is finally released?
Ronan Wants To Take On 007
Blitz actress Saoirse Ronan has made no secret of the fact she would love to portray a Bond villain in the next movie - and she would be prepared to change her blonde hair for the role.
Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast about her potential character, she said: "Her and Bond don't get together or anything, she's a villain. Like Javier Bardem vibes.
"I'm conscious of being blonde, because I feel like a lot of villains in movies, they’re always like, make them super blonde and evil looking.
"I’d want to break [the trend], but honestly it’s whatever [Bond producer] Barbara [Broccoli] wants!”
Ronan is the 6/4 favourite on betting apps to be the next female Bond villain, just in front of 2/1 chance Charlize Theron.
But if Bond bosses are on the lookout for a female villain and want to go down the more experienced route, the likes of Meryl Streep (5/2) and Dame Helen Mirren (3/1) would more than likely be in the conversation.
Colman's Bond Options
Another top-tier actress who would surely be in with a shout is Olivia Colman.
While she isn't regarded as someone who plays a lot of villains, Colman could turn her hand to anything - and she's up for a Bond part.
Last year, the actress admitted she has always dreamed of playing M, the Head of MI6 and Bond's superior officer, who was previously played by Dame Judi Dench.
She said to British Vogue magazine: "The amount of time I have wanted to be M. I'm not sure who I need to call..."
Ralph Fiennes portrayed M in the latest Bond movie, 2021's No Time To Die, which was also Daniel Craig's final outing as 007.
However, Fiennes has previously expressed an interest in reprising his role as M in the next motion picture.
Speaking to Total Film magazine in 2021, he said: "If anyone from Eon Films is listening, I'm very keen to continue training the new Bond."
This could mean that Colman might have to wait for the opportunity to play M, or she could perhaps move onto a Bond villain role instead.
She is 4/1 to be the next female Bond villain, ahead of Hollywood legends Jamie Lee Curtis (9/2) and Jodie Foster (9/1).
Others who could be in contention to portray the next Bond Girl include the likes of Sydney Sweeney, but the White Lotus actress is also an 11/2 chance to portray a Bond villain.
Husband And Wife Villains
Should Ronan become the next female Bond villain, there could even be a unique scenario where her real-life husband, Jack Lowden, is also a Bond villain in the same movie.
The Slow Horses actor is 5/1 to land such a role, and with Craig's successor yet to be confirmed, Lowden has also been linked to the suave spy position.
During Ronan's chat about potentially landing the Bond villain role, she was asked what she would pick if it came down to that or her husband being named the new 007.
She replied: "He should be Bond. If it’s a choice between the two."
We could even see Lowden as Bond and his wife Ronan as the character's next nemesis.
Another star who is in contention for the coveted Bond role is Paul Mescal.
The Gladiator II actor is one of the short-priced favourites for the job, but if he misses out then he could be a worthy opponent to the suave spy.
He is 13/8 favourite with new betting sites to be the next male Bond villain, and fellow Irish actors Barry Keoghan (7/4) and Colin Farrell (9/4) are also in contention.
Tom Hardy (2/1) is also a short price, and he is no stranger to hard-hitting roles, including portraying evil Bane in Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises and both twin gangsters Ronnie and Reggie Kray in film Legend.
Idris Elba has previously played down his chances of becoming Bond, but this could pave the way for him to appear as a villain in the next movie.
He is 5/2 to do so, while Mescal's Gladiator II co-star Pedro Pascal is just 3/1 for such a role.
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