Will Tom Hardy Be the Next James Bond? Pierce Brosnan Would Be ‘Happy’ To See the ‘Venom’ Star Take Over the Iconic Role

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

• Tom Hardy is currently tied with Richard Madden at 4/1 odds to be the next James Bond.
• The only person with better odds is Tom Hopper from The Umbrella Academy.
• Former Bond Pierce Brosnan would be “happy” to see Hardy take over the iconic role.

Tom Hardy has been a popular choice among fans to become the next James Bond. Now that Daniel Craig has given his final performance as 007 in No Time To Die, betting houses have Hardy near the top of the list to be Craig’s replacement. According to former Bond Pierce Brosnan, he would be “happy” to see the Venom star take over the iconic role.

The odds are (sort of) in Tom Hardy’s favor

UK betting house William Hill has the odds at 4/1 that Hardy will be named the next James Bond. He’s tied with fellow Marvel star Richard Madden at number two on the list. The only actor above them is Tom Hopper — who plays Luther on Netflix’s hit series The Umbrella Academy. William Hill currently has Hopper’s odds at 3/1.

However, Hopper’s big move to number one is a recent trend. While Hardy has been on the Bond radar for years, Hopper essentially appeared out of nowhere.

“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,” William Hill spokesperson Rupert Adams explained to Express. “The gamble suggests that he is almost certainly on the shortlist.”

Money Penny actor Naomie Harris says the ‘Venom’ star would ‘amazing’

Naomie Harris, who plays Money Penny, says she is “down” for Hardy becoming the next big-screen British spy. Harris told ET Canada that if the decision was up to her, she would vote for the Venom star because “he would be amazing.”

“He would make a great Bond, but they always pick someone we don’t expect and is up and coming,” Harris explained. “I reckon it will be someone totally unexpected and their name isn’t even in the mix. But I do think Tom would be amazing and if I could pick I would choose Tom.”

Pierce Brosnan would be ‘happy’ to see Tom Hardy as James Bond

Brosnan — who played 007 in GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day — has weighed in on who he thinks should replace Daniel Craig during a couple of different interviews.

Back in 2018, he told The Mail on Sunday’s Event Magazine that he would be “happy” to see Hardy get the role.

“I think Tom Hardy could be a good Bond. I’d be happy to see him do it,” Brosnan said, according to Indiewire. “You need an actor who can put a bit of wiggle into it — that’s what makes Bond.”

James Bond creators can go ‘many different ways’

Brosnan also shared his thoughts about the next James Bond in the summer of 2021. He told People magazine that Craig has “left such an indelible footprint,” and they can go in “many different ways.”

The former Bond admitted it was “wearisome” to always be asked about who should be the next 007. But this time Brosnan said that two names did come to mind — Hardy and Idris Elba.

“Idris is such a powerful presence and such a great former voice tensity. He would be magnificent. There’s Tom Hardy out there as well. Tom can really chew the furniture up, just be a ball boy – both men can,” Brosnan explained.

When will James Bond fans find out if Tom Hardy gets the role?

Fans are eager to find out who will be the next James Bond. But 007 bosses Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are keeping their short list a secret — for now. According to Broccoli, they want Craig to enjoy his final turn as the iconic character before they start thinking about his replacement.

“We want Daniel to have his time of celebration,” she told Esquire. “Next year we’ll start thinking about the future.”

Broccoli also told Total Film that she can “only be in love with one person at a time.” And, she says the role would have to be “reimagined” because the character constantly evolves based on who plays him on the big screen.

“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.