Following his 8-episode arc in House of Guinness, Irish actor Anthony Boyle has been added to the shortlist of actors who could be cast as James Bond in Bond 26. According to OddsChecker, Boyle now has the second-shortest odds of being cast as 007 and is currently tied with long-running hopeful Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
Although some may think he appears too youthful to play the dashing MI6 intelligence officer, Boyle is roughly the same age as Sean Connery was when he first played Bond in 1962’s Dr. No. While that alone hardly constitutes serious contention, Boyle’s eclectic resume shows an ability to play a vast range of characters across multiple genres. With Boyle’s talents for playing famous characters and real-life historical figures, it’s easy to see why he’s among the betting favorites to become the next James Bond.
Who is Anthony Boyle?
Anthony Boyle is an Irish actor who has amassed 25 movie and TV credits since 2012. After playing a Bolton Guard in Game of Thrones in 2014, Boyle earned his first recurring TV role in Agatha Christie: Ordeal by Innocence, in which he played antagonist Jack Argyll. Holding his own among such talented veterans as Bill Nighy and Matthew Goode, Boyle proved he could deliver a strong performance despite a wealth of experience.
From 2018 to 2020, Boyle continued to increase his profile on television, playing recurring characters in Derry Girls, Come Home, Patrick Melrose, and perhaps most impressively, The Plot Against America, created by The Wire‘s David Simon and Ed Burns. In the latter, Boyle played Alvin Levin in a compelling six-episode arc, a Jewish-American orphan and nephew of series lead, Herman Levin (Morgan Spector). Alvin leaves his adoptive family to join the Canadian army and fight against the Nazis and antisemitism.
After appearing in the TV movie Danny Boy in 2021 and Tetris in 2023, Boyle literally and figuratively elevated his performance in Masters of the Air, the acclaimed Apple TV+ miniseries chronicling the heroism of the U.S. Air Force during World War II. Boyle earned an Irish Film and Television Award (IFTA) nomination for Best Supporting Actor and an Online Film & Television Association nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Following Masters of the Air, Boyle has become one of the busiest and most sought-after young actors. He portrayed John Wilkes Booth with great complexity in Apple TV+’s Manhunt, stood out as John Barak in the period mystery drama Shardlake, and earned a Best Lead Actor nomination for his role as Brendan Hughes in Hulu’s Say Nothing at the 2025 IFTA Awards.
Anthony Boyle Has Become a Betting Favorite to Play 007 in Bond 26
Following his highly productive TV run in 2024, Boyle expanded his profile considerably with the release of House of Guinness in September 2025. The hit Netflix series concerns the titular beer magnate and his family, with Boyle portraying Arthur Guinness, the eldest son of Sir Benjamin Guinness.
As he’s tasked with growing the business in the wake of his father’s death, Arthur struggles to run the brewery after he is blackmailed for being gay, which was illegal at the time. Arthur also deals with the petty infighting and treacherous betrayals by his own siblings, who are vying for control of the family business and maneuvering for political office.
Since giving a terrific performance in House of Guinness, Boyle has recently shot to the top of the list of potential candidates to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond in Bond 26. As OddsChecker states, Boyle is tied with Aaron Taylor-Johnson (+430) for the second-shortest odds to win the role of James Bond, only behind Callum Turner (+210).
In order of shortest odds, the top six candidates include Turner, Boyle, Taylor-Johnson, Theo James (+650), Leo Sutter (+750), and James Nelson-Joyce (+900). Not only does Boyle have a high chance of being named the next 007, but he also happens to be the youngest candidate of the bunch, which could play in his favor. Throw in his dashing looks, cool onscreen demeanor, and dramatic chops, and Boyle’s chances are increased considerably.
Why Anthony Boyle Has What It Takes to Succeed Daniel Craig in Bond 26
As Denis Villeneuve prepares for Bond 26, all eyes turn to whom the director will choose to play the iconic super-spy after Daniel Craig ended his 15-year run. Craig first played the role at 38 and last played it at 51. While Craig won fans’ hearts as 007, nobody has had the same cultural impact as Sean Connery did as the first actor playing the role. Connery was 32 when he first played James Bond in Dr. No.
While Villeneuve may cast a veteran actor like Roger Moore to play Bond, who was 45 when he first portrayed 007, it would be far wiser to cast a more youthful performer to capably handle the physical nature of the action sequences and demanding set pieces. As chance would have it, Anthony Boyle is 31 years old, the youngest of the six top candidates to become the next James Bond. Coupled with his impressive acting resume and an ideal age to play Bond for the next decade or more, it’s easy to see why Boyle is a viable option.
But here’s the real kicker. Bond 26 is written by Steven Knight, the creator, writer, and showrunner of House of Guinness, who personally selected Boyle to play Arthur Guinness. As Boyle’s most recent and likely most-viewed role to date, House of Guinness serves as the perfect audition to be cast as 007 in Bond 26. Knight is familiar with his acting range, and the two have undoubtedly forged a creative shorthand together that would pay dividends if Boyle were named the next Bond.
Looking ahead, Boyle has two projects that have yet to be released. The first is the drama I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning, which has already wrapped filming. The second is The Altruists, a miniseries in which Boyle will play the founder of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried. With his schedule open thereafter, the timing to join Bond 26 only helps Boyle’s case.
Between his ideal age for the role, his recent outstanding performances, and his previous ties with Bond 26‘s writer, the stars are aligning for Anthony Boyle to become the seventh actor to portray James Bond.
