Is Damian Lewis about to become the next James Bond? If the choice alone depended on U.K. bookies odds, then there is a very big chance that the "Homeland" star could slip into the shoes of the world's most famous undercover agent.
William Hill revealed earlier this week that they had dramatically slashed their odds of 25-1 to 6-4 after speculations and large bets arose, pushing Lewis' name onto the top of the list as the man who will become the next 007. Lewis is now ahead of other potential Bond competitors, who include Idris Elba at 5-2, Tom Hardy at 4-1, Henry Cavill at 5-1, and Michael Fassbender at 7-1.
William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams told the Daily Telegraph, "This is an unprecedented gamble, as for no apparent reason we have seen bets of up to £200 (about $314) on Damian Lewis being named as the next Bond. This might well be significant."
Speculations about the next James Bond started when it was rumored that "Spectre," which will premiere in November, could be the last time that Daniel Craig will play the character. Craig ties with Pierce Brosnan who played the role in four films each, while Roger Moore and Sean Connery have longer tenures playing the character seven times each.
Aside from "Homeland," Lewis also starred in the 2014 film "The Silent Storm," the executive producers of which include Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, the children of "Bond" producer Albert Broccoli, and the producers of the Bond movies since 1995's "GoldenEye." According to The Telegraph, Broccoli became a fan of Lewis after working with him on the film.
Lewis also narrated Ian Fleming's "Diamonds are Forever" audiobook and has joked that the character's Scottish heritage, which is a major plot point in "Skyfall," has "paved the way perfectly for a red-headed Bond."
