Tom Hardy Dethroned as the Odds-on Favorite to Be the Next James Bond by Someone Many Fans Have Never Heard Of
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
- For years Tom Hardy has been the odds-on favorite to take over the role of James Bond.
- Hardy has been dethroned by a star of the Netflix hit The Umbrella Academy.
- One James Bond star admits she is ‘down’ for Tom Hardy to take over the iconic role.
Tom Hardy has been the odds-on favorite for years to become the next James Bond. Now that Daniel Craig has taken his final bow as 007 in No Time To Die, the chatter is starting to heat up about who will get the role. However, the timing couldn’t be worse for Hardy because another star has recently shot to the top of the list.
A Neflix star takes the top spot from Tom Hardy
According to Express, Hardy and Eternals star Richard Madden are no longer the favorites in the race to become the next James Bond. Now, British betting house William Hill has named Tom Hopper — star of The Umbrella Academy — as the actor who will most likely get the coveted 007 role.
Hopper plays Luther in the hit Netflix series, and his odds used to be at 100/1 on becoming James Bond after Craig. But now, his odds have been slashed to 3/1, making Hopper the current odds-on favorite.
Tom Hopper is ‘almost certainly on the shortlist’
After announcing Hopper’s changing odds, William Hill spokesperson Rupert Adams admitted that The Umbrella Academy star wasn’t even on their radar until recently.
“It looks like we have been caught on the hop here. Yesterday morning Tom Hopper was completely off our radar, but he is firmly on it now,” Adams explained. “The gamble suggests that he is almost certainly on the shortlist.”
It should be noted that the people who are in charge of naming the next James Bond — 007 bosses Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson — have kept the actual Bond shortlist a complete secret.
Tom Hardy could still land the coveted part
Even though Hopper has shot ahead of Hardy, the Venom star is still very high on the list. William Hill has Hardy’s odds at 4/1. The same goes for Madden, whose current odds are also at 4/1.
Another popular option is Bridgerton star Regé-Jean Page, whose popularity spiked during the 2020 Christmas season when Netflix released season 1. Page’s current odds to become the next James Bond, according to William Hill, are at 7/1. Rounding out the top five is Superman actor Henry Cavill, whose current odds are at 10/1.
Money Penny actor votes for Tom Hardy as the next 007
Naomie Harris, who plays Money Penny, says she is “down” for Hardy becoming the next big screen British spy. Harris told Entertainment Tonight that she would vote for the Venom star because “he would be amazing.”
But when the reporter asked Hardy for his reaction about the Bond rumors, he refused to talk about the subject.
The new James Bond won’t be announced until 2022
Even though fans are ready to find out who the next James Bond will be, they are going to have to wait a little longer for the announcement. According to Broccoli, they want Craig to enjoy his final turn as Bond before they start thinking about his replacement.
“We want Daniel [Craig] to have his time of celebration,” she told Esquire. “Next year we’ll start thinking about the future.”
In an earlier interview with Total Film, Broccoli explained that she can “only be in love with one person at a time.” She also noted the role would have to be “reimagined” because the character constantly evolves.
“Once No Time to Die comes out, then some time will pass, and then we’ll have to get on to the business of the future. But for now, we just cannot think about anything beyond Daniel,” Broccoli said.
No Time To Die is currently playing in theaters nationwide.
