James Bond odds SLASHED on HOT new favourite and he's NOT British

The front-runners have been the same for a few years now, with only Cillian Murphy breaking into the elite group recently. Most are hugely popular British TV and film stars with considerable home and international appeal, but none of them has fronted a major Hollywood blockbuster. Now, however, a huge star has shot up the rankings just as his time ends in the biggest film franchise. Is it time to head Down Under for the next Bond?

There is a reason why the Avengers Endgame trailer is playing over this article.

Many of the biggest stars from the series are expected to leave after the titanic climax to the first three MCU Phases – and one of them has his eye on saving the world in a different way next.

Bookies have just dropped the James Bond odds on Chris Hemsworth by two thirds following recent reports and comments.

Hemsworth told lifestyle magazine BALANCE the subject has been discussed since he filmed the 2013 racing driver biopic Rush: “I thought, ‘Cool, if this is my audition tape, then great.’ I don’t think you’ll ever meet anyone who doesn’t want to have a crack at James Bond. I’d love to do it.”

He modestly added: “That’s up to so many elements and is way beyond myself; it’s not one you can pitch yourself on to either. It’s something that the community of Bond fans, [franchise producer] Barbara Broccoli and the whole crew there agree on, and it has to be a very organic decision from them. There have been a lot of names thrown out there and a lot of brilliant people can tackle that one.”

Even so, Coral just announced a massive drop in Hemsworth’s odd to replace Daniel Craig.

Overnight, the Aussie star has rising odds of 16-1, down from 50-1. 

Incredibly that still leaves him behind the betting on the first female Bond, which sits at 12/1.

As for the leaders of the pack, they remain steady with 2-1 Tom Hiddleston, 3-1 James Norton, 4-1 Idris Elba, 4-1 Tom Hardy, 6-1 Cillian Murphy and 8-1 Damian Lewis.

Following Avengers Endgame, Hemsworth’s odds could fall again when he hits the screen as a slick gun-toting secret agent in the Men In Black reboot.

ORIGINAL INTERVIEW IN BALANCE

AVENGERS ENDGAME IS OUT ON APRIL 25