James Bond: Former favourite for new 007 surges ahead – Will he BEAT James Norton?

James Bond stalwart Daniel Craig will be exiting the franchise after his fifth movie, No Time To Die. But it is still unknown who will be taking his place in the lead. Now, bookmakers have seen a shake-up to the running.

Sam Heughan, a former favourite to replace Craig as 007, has seen his odds shortened in the past few days.

Since last week, the Outlander actor’s odds have been cut from 8/1 to 6/1, putting him fourth in the running, according to Ladbrokes.

Alex Apati, a spokesman for the bookies, told Express.co.uk: “It’s all change at the head of the Bond betting and Sam Heughan has leapfrogged a handful of A-listers to put himself firmly among the frontrunners to replace Daniel Craig.

The move once again makes Heughan a threat to James Norton, who is the current favourite to be the next Bond.

READ MORE: DANIEL CRAIG DIDN’T DREAM OF BEING JAMES BOND BUT THIS SUPERHERO

The film was due to come out in early April but will instead premiere seven months later.

China, where COVID-19 first broke out and which has been hit hard by the virus, is the world’s second largest film market.

Since Craig’s final Bond film was pushed back, a number of other big movies have been delayed because of the coronavirus outbreak, including the new live action Mulan and Marvel’s Black Widow.

When it does finally land in cinemas, No Time To Die will see Bond retired from active service.