The race to be the next James Bond has taken another turn as a new, little-known face has emerged as an unexpected frontrunner.
The actor has seen his odds of swooping the role dramatically slashed after a reported meeting with long-time Bond producer Barbara Broccoli.
Mike Dickman has seen his chances of replacing Daniel Craig dramatically improve from 100-1 to 5-1 in just 48 hours.
The surge in betting follows reports that Dickman met with Bond producer Barbara Broccoli last year in London.
Dickman has become a strong contender in the next Bond race
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Sources claim that during a meeting about an unrelated project, Broccoli brought up the subject of Bond.
"The two of them met up in London last January, and it was a very cordial meeting about something unrelated, during which Barbara brought up Bond. Mike ended up sending an audition tape," an insider told The Mirror.
It remains unclear if there were any follow-up discussions after the audition tape was submitted.
Dickman, 40, has carved out a relatively new acting career with small roles in major films including Barbie and Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny.
Dickman is thought to have met with Broccoli which led to an audition tape being filmed
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The actor is now set to star in a global Netflix drama series about Gandhi, expected to be released later this year.
He will also appear in two upcoming films: 'Secrets' and 'The Manor', where he will star opposite Mena Suvari.
He previously worked as a financier at Ernst & Young and in Manchester City Football Club's commercial sponsorship team before moving into film production.
Dickman has been in a relationship with Heather Mills, the former wife of Sir Paul McCartney, since 2019.
Cavill has also seen his odds dramtically shorten recently
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The Bond franchise entered a new era last month after Amazon MGM purchased creative control from EON Productions in a deal worth nearly $1billion.
Long-time producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli chose to step aside, handing creative control of the franchise to the streaming giant.
The 41-year-old now has 2/1 odds of succeeding Daniel Craig in the role.
His casting would be an end to a 20-year saga that began when the actor, then 22, auditioned for the part - eventually losing out to Daniel Craig.