For any performer, landing a major franchise role can change the game for them in an instant. These roles come with a lot of exposure, and they can positively impact someone's career in no time at all. Just look at what Marvel and DC have done for their lead performers.
Tom Hardy is a major star who is doing quite well for himself, and he's benefitted from working with both Marvel and DC. It just so happens that Tom Hardy is in contention for one of the biggest openings in Hollywood history.
So, is Tom Hardy going to be the next James Bond? Let's take a closer look and see.
James Bond Is An Iconic Character
When taking a look at the most popular movie characters of all time, it's pretty easy to see that there are few names in history that can stack up to James Bond. 007 has been a fixture on the big screen for decades, and during that time, he has been able to outlast many names that have come and gone.
Bond made his debut with Sean Connery as the lead, and over time, there have been a number of actors who have had their chance to shine as James Bond. This is something that makes the character genuinely unique, as every generation has their own James Bond that they grew up with.
Some of the names that played James Bond include the aforementioned Connery, Roger Moore, and Pierce Brosnan. These fantastic actors all played a part in crafting the character's legacy on the big screen, and while not every movie has been a classic, there is no denying the sustained success that 007 has had in the passing decades.
The most recent man to take on the role of James Bond was Daniel Craig, who could not have been a better choice for the iconic spy.
Daniel Craig Played Him For Five Movies
The most recent slate of Bond films was led by Craig, who was not exactly a known commodity prior to landing the role. Despite his lack of mainstream success as a leading man, Craig slid into the franchise and was able to help elevate the character to unprecedented heights.
Sure, some folks would say that Craig had an uneven go with Bond, given that movies like Quantum of Solace weren't as loved as offerings like Casino Royale, but the box office receipts certainly show that people were loving what Craig was giving them.
As fans recently saw, No Time to Die was, in fact, Craig's last outing as 007, meaning that the franchise is now without a James Bond moving forward. This means that a new Bond will be cast soon enough.
Because the role is so iconic, it makes sense that fans around the world are waiting to see who the next Bond is going to be. One popular name that has been floated around for some time now is none other than Tom Hardy.
Is Tom Hardy Next?
Tom Hardy has had a wonderful career in Hollywood, and the success of the Venom movies certainly proves that he can lead a successful franchise. Given this notion and his acting chops, it should not be too surprising to learn that Hardy is considered to be one of the strongest contenders to play James Bond in the next set of films.
According to Coral via Express, Hardy is currently the odds-on favorite to land arguably the most coveted role in the film industry. Hardy stands at 4-1 odds at this point, and he is currently ahead of other major names like Henry Cavill, Rege-Jean Page, Tom Hopper, Idris Elba, and Richard Madden.
Hardy was mum on playing Bond earlier this year, but his Venom: Let There Be Carnage co-star, Naomie Harris (a Daniel Craig Bond film alumni), had positive things to say about Hardy potentially taking the role.
"He would be amazing. He's such a phenomenal actor. I'm such a huge fan of his and then working with him on Venom, I have even more respect for him. He's just like, incredible, the physicality that he brings to the role is just extraordinary. I've never seen anything like it," Harris said.
It could be some time before anything is officially announced, but Tom Hardy seems to be the man that could land the job in due time. A Hardy-led 007 franchise? Yeah, we'd be there in a heartbeat.
