Next Bond villain: Game of Thrones legend emerges as surprise frontrunner for 007 face-off after Amazon takeover
Peter Dinklage, famed for his four-time Emmy award winning performance in Game of Thrones, has emerged as a front-runner to play the next Bond villain.
Bond fans have been eagerly awaiting news from the franchise after streaming giant Amazon took full creative control last month.
While the question of who will play Bond himself remains still up in the air, new data has emerged on who the legendary spy may go up against.
The role of 007’s antagonist has seen its fair share of iconic actors – from Mads Mikkelsen sinister Le Chiffre to Christopher to Oscar winner Rami Malek’s most recent turn as Daniel Craig’s last antagonist.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Next James Bond: Barbara Broccoli exit gives huge boost to previously ruled-out actor’s hopes amid 007 age debateJames Bond bombshell as Barbara Broccoli GIVES UP creative control to Amazon in major shake-up to film franchiseBond spin-off: British actress A-lister emerges as possible star of rumoured Amazon series
007 has also battled Sean Bean, Christopher Lee, Jonathan Pryce, Christopher Walken, Javier Bardem, Christoph Waltz, among others.
Now, analysis from Gambling.com’s Entertainment expert James Leyfield points to Dinklage, 55, to join the esteemed villainous company.
Leyfeild gives Dinklage 13/8 odds of becoming the next Bond villain, translating to a healthy 38.1 per cent chance of taking on the role.
Dinklage won critical acclaim for his role as Tyrion Lannister in HBO’s Game of Thrones and has led a glittering acting career.
He also recently starred in box office smash hit Wicked.
Hot on the heels of Dinklage is Barry Keoghan, 32, following several critically acclaimed projects, with 7/4 odds of taking role.
Two Americans are also in close contention, with Hollywood icons Ben Affleck and Dwyane ‘The Rock’ Johnson both holding a 2/1 or a 33.3 percent chance of snatching the part.
However, Leyfeild also believes there could be a female villain set on world domination in Bond’s not too distant future.
Leading the pack in that category is Keoghan’s Saltburn co-star Rosamund Pike, 46, who holds a 6/4 or 40 per cent chance of facing off against 007.
This would be a return to the franchise for Pike, who played Bond girl turned villain in Die Another Day – Peirce Brosnan’s last outing.
Lucy Liu, 56, also holds strong 2/1 odds of swooping in.
Other actresses in contention are Saoirse Ronan, Kaley Cuoco and Connie Nielsen.