While speculation over who could be the next James Bond continues to mount, fans have also been pondering other aspects of the next outing in the 007 film franchise.
The last Bond movie No Time to Die, which starred Daniel Craig as the suave spy, came out in 2021.
Since then, Aaron Taylor-Johnson has emerged as the clear favourite for the role while ‘Bond girl’ candidates have also been discussed.
Now, however, talk has turned to which musical artist might provide the all-important theme tune for the next film, following in the footsteps of Dame Shirley Bassey, Madonna, Sir Paul McCartney and Adele.
The last two Bond songs were provided by chart-toppers Sam Smith and Billie Eilish for Spectre (The Writing’s on the Wall) and No Time to Die’s track of the same name, respectively.
For the 26th official adventure of James Bond from Eon Productions, a musical frontrunner has emerged in the form of .
She is currently 6/4 favourite for the job on betting sites.
Gambling.com’s entertainment expert James Leyfield commented: ‘Dua Lipa is among the frontrunners to be the next Bond Girl, and it’s thought she could provide a two-for-one deal for savvy Bond bosses.
‘Should the Glastonbury headliner be cast in the movie, she will no doubt be a shoo-in to also perform the theme tune.’
The Houdini hitmaker has recently been dipping her toe into acting, with the 28-year-old nabbing small roles in both Barbie and spy caper Argylle in recent months.
There are other big names snapping at her heels though, as well as a few surprise choices.
This summer’s chart-topper Sabrina Carpenter has been given odds of 2/1 for clinching the job already, while pop icon Lady Gaga is just behind on 5/2 and Taylor Swift on 3/1.
Perhaps more traditional choices of Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John are also in the mix, but with slightly lower odds of 7/2 and 11/2.
Celine Dion is also a contender, having made a glorious – and flawless – return to live performing after her stiff-person syndrome diagnosis with the opening ceremony at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
She also has significant heft when it comes to making huge hits of film theme songs, following My heart Will Go On’s breakout success alongside the 11 Oscar wins of Titanic.
Dion also recorded How Does A Moment Last Forever for the end credits of Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast remake in 2017, and Ashes for Deadpool 2 in 2018.
Latest odds for who could sing the next James Bond theme song
- Dua Lipa – 6/4 (40%)
- Sabrina Carpenter -2/1 (33.3%)
- Lady Gaga – 5/2 (28.6%)
- Taylor Swift – 3/1 (25%)
- Ed Sheeran – 7/2 (22.2%
- SZA – 4/1 (20%)
- Harry Styles – 5/1 (16.7%)
- Sir Elton John – 11/2 (15.4%)
- Celine Dion – 6/1 (14.3%)
- Megan Thee Stallion – 13/2 (13.3%)
- Lana Del Ray – 7/1 (12.5%)
- Lewis Capaldi – 8/1 (11.1%)
- Ellie Goulding – 10/1 (9.1%)
- Raye – 12/1 (7.7%)
She’s currently on 6/1.
It was reported earlier this year that Lana Del Rey could be lined up for the theme tune by Bond bosses, with the singer herself revealing in May that she had actually written one of her past songs for a Bond movie – and had it rejected.
‘She has the ideal voice for a dark, broody song – if that’s the direction bosses are looking to go in – and is currently 7/1 to be offered the gig,’ Leyfield added, putting her just behind Megan Thee Stallion on 13/2.
Dame Shirley, 87, remains the only artist to have recorded more than one Bond theme song, with the Welsh star actually providing three: Goldfinger in 1964, Diamonds Are Forever in 1971 and Moonraker in 1979.