While fans of Netflix’s flashy spy seriesThe Recruitwould love to see star Noah Centineo play the next James Bond, English actor James Norton is the current frontrunner. As of mid-February 2025,Oddscheckerhas Nortonand Aaron Taylor-Johnson tied with the shortest betting odds to play 007 inBond 26, with each given a 5/2 chance of winning the role. However, once Bond producers and casting agents see Norton in the underrated spy dramaRogue Agent,Norton’s odds could increase considerably.
Released in 2022,Rogue Agentstars Norton as a conniving criminal who tricks the world into believing he is a top-ranking MI5 agent. Although he is not, Norton’s performative ability to convince those around him thathe’s a skilled spyonly bolsters his chances of proving his James Bond bona fides. Meanwhile, those drawn toThe Recruit’s stylish implausibility will enjoyRogue Agent’s extreme twists and turns.
Rogue Agent
‘The Recruit’s Darkly Comedic Take on Spy Dramas
The Recruitis a Netflix legal spy dramawith dark comedy and adventure leanings from creator Alexi Hawley. The story traces Owen Hendricks (Centineo), a new and naive CIA litigator stuck in an ethical bind as he learns the daily routines of sensitive intelligence work. Grappling with quotidian protocols, Owen’s life becomes in grave danger when he is contacted by Max Meladze (Laura Haddock).Max is a former CIA informant prepared to blackmail Owen and the CIA if she isn’t released from jail for battering a trucker to death.
As Owen untangles the knotty web connecting Max to the CIA,both become embroiled in a high-stakes geopolitical plot. Trust becomes scarce, with Owen paranoid about who and who not to speak to and relay sensitive intelligence. Par for the course on a Netflix original series,The Recruitfavors style over substance, and lives and dies with the witty charms of its star, Noah Centineo.
The Recruithardly reinvents spycraft or adds anything new to espionage but remains flashy, fast-paced, and absurdly funny. While the tone couldn’t be more different thanRogue Agent,James Norton has the same magnetic gravitas as Centineo, with, for Bond purposes, the added benefit of being British.
Who Is James Norton?
James Norton is an English actor who debuted onscreen in the 2009 filmAn Education. With roughly 50 credits amassed, Norton has steadily graduated from supporting movie and TV characters to leading roles. Early credits includeDoctor Who, Mr. Turner, Bonobo, Angelica, War & Peace,andBlack Mirror. Norton appeared in the American remake ofFlatliners(2017), expanding his international profile.
Norton’s visibility continued to increase with starring roles inLittle Women,the HBO original seriesThe Nevers, A Little Life, Bob Marley: One Love,and the Netflix original movieJoy. In 2025, Norton will star in the ITV original drama miniseriesPlaying Nice. With a handful of projects in development this year and beyond, Norton will also be seen inHouse of the Dragon, King and Conqueror, House of Guinness, Wife and Dog, and Sunny Dancer.
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Perhaps lost in Norton’s impressive resume is the 2022 spy dramaRogue Agent. Although the movie lacksThe Recruit’s absurd dark humor,Norton’s commanding performance as a posing spy underscores why he’s the odds-on favorite to be cast asthe next James Bond.
‘Rogue Agent’ Tells a Thrilling True Spy Story
Directed by Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson,Rogue Agenttells the incredible true story of Robert Freegard (Norton). Adapted from Michael Bronner’s article “Chasing Agent Freegard,“the movie tracks the conniving criminal exploits of Robert Freegard, a British conman who fooled the British intelligence community into believing he was an official MI5 agent.
To begin his long-con, Robert claims he is an MI5, soliciting three fellow operatives — Ian (Rob Malone), Mae (Freya Mavor), and Sophie (Marisa Abela) — to assist his mission to catch members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Posing as a luxury car sales rep, Robert meets Alice Archer (Gemma Arterton), a lawyer whom he seduces with his dashing Bond-like charms and elegant charisma. Part of his seduction includes living a lavish life of luxury, replete with fancy sports cars and flashy opulence.
The closer Alice becomes to unmasking Robert’s identity as a fraudulent huckster who is not an MI5 agent, the more elaborate Robert’s schemes become to keep his ruse intact. Even when Alice hires a private investigator to snoop around his bank records and credit history, Robert remains one step ahead, throws off her scent, and constantly gaslights her with hazy alibis and airtight excuses.
Beyond his acting aplomb and convincing skill at playing a phony MI5 agent, Norton has the precise physical stature, appearance, age (40 in 2025), and natural British dialect required to play James Bond. Between these qualities and his magnetic performance inRogue Agent, it’s easy to see why Oddschecker thinks Norton has the best chanceto play the next Agent 007 inBond 26.
The Recruitfans who’ve completed Season 2 since its debut on August 11, 2025, should keep the streaming service open and head over toRogue Agent. The movie will showcase more complex spycraft and twisty double crossings with less absurd humor, as James Norton’s seductive and sophisticated turn proves he has what it takes to don 007’s iconic tuxedo next time out.
