Has Tom Hardy got the job as the new Bond?

Betting has been suspended on Tom Hardy becoming the new James Bond following reports he has been named as Daniel Craig’s replacement.

Speculation has reached fever pitch in recent days amid claims the actor, 43, had been offered the iconic part after a successful audition.

All bets on who will be the next Bond are off, after Hardy’s odds were slashed from 6/1 to 1/1, amid the swirling rumours about the spy franchise’s new lead.

The Venom star has been one of the bookies favourites to take over the role since the market opened in September last year, when he was 9/1 to be cast as Bond.

When the bookmakers market closed, James Norton was the second favourite actor to bag the part at 9/4, followed by Idris Elba (11/2), Sam Heughan (6/1) and Richard Madden (7/1).  

Oddschecker spokesperson Callum Wilson: ‘For years we’ve heard speculation about who will replace Daniel Craig as James Bond, and finally it seems that English heart-throb Tom Hardy is the man for the role. ‘

‘The versatile Hardy would certainly be a popular choice – and attracted 54% of all bets in the 24 hours before the market was suspended.’  

The movement seems to have shifted following a report from the Vulcan Reporter, in which it claims Hardy is next in line for 007. 

Tom has been one of the bookies favourites to become the next 007 in recent years, and rumours have been circulating he will step into Craig’s shoes after his fifth and final film, No Time To Die.

The Vulcan Reporter claims that Hardy had been offered the role after a successful audition, while bookies odds on the star have now been slashed in half.

The publication reports producers had planned to unveil Tom as James Bond in November- the same month No Time To Die was due to be released.

However, due to the coronavirus pandemic the Vulcan Reporter state the announcement will now be made later this year or early 2021.

Earlier this week bookies have slashed odds on The Peaky Blinders star from 8/1 to just 4/5 in the past 24 hours after a flurry of bets.

Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: ‘A flurry of bets over the past 24 hours suggests the cat is out the bag and it’s Tom Hardy that’ll soon be replacing Daniel Craig as 007.’ 

The Taboo star has made no secret about wanting to be the next 007 – but has previously refused to talk about the part in fear it will get him blacklisted. 

Speaking to the Daily Beast, the heart-throb admitted: ‘If I mention it, it’s gone.

‘You know, there’s a saying amongst us in the fraternity of acting, and in the fellowship of my peer group, that if you talk about it you’re automatically out of the race.

‘So I can’t possibly comment on that one!’ 

Hardy’s childhood has made for an unlikely movie star after getting kicked out of school and arrested for joyriding in a stolen Mercedes with possession of a gun.

Following a battle with drug and alcohol addiction as a teen, Hardy went on to bag a modelling contract after winning a TV competition in the late nineties.

During this time Hardy married producer Sarah Ward in 1999, but the former couple divorced in 2004, citing that he ‘did not have time’ for their marriage. 

The Dark Night Rises actor, who was also expelled from Drama Centre London, earned small parts in the Band of Brothers TV series and Black Hawk Down in 2001.

As Hardy’s industry profile rose, he appeared in Oliver Twist as malicious criminal Bill Sikes in 2007, and the lead part of Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights in 2009.

During this time the star’s most notable roles were as Handsome Bob in RocknRolla and the ‘most violent prisoner in Britain’ Charles Bronson in Bronson, both of which put him on the map.After being noticed by Hollywood producers following the roles, Hardy also bagged parts in Inception (2010) and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

While filming Bronson, Tom met Charles several times and the convict is believed to have been hugely impressed by his ability to put on muscle and mimic his voice and mannerisms. 

After being noticed by Hollywood producers following the roles, Hardy also bagged parts in Inception (2010) and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011). 

While Hardy will play the ultimate hero in Bond, one of his most memorable roles was as Batman villain Bane, in Christopher Nolan’s third instalment of the trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises (2012).

Other well received performances from Hardy include playing both of the Kray twins, Ronnie and Reggie in 2015 film Legend, as well as Dunkirk (2017) and Venom (2018).

He is also widely recognised for his role of Alfie Solomons in period crime drama Peaky Blinders, which he has held from 2014 until last year.

Tom is father to his son Louis, 12, who he welcomed in 2008 with his then-girlfriend Rachel Speed, whom he met on the set of Virgin Queen in 2005.

The couple separated a year after the birth of their son. 

However the same year he began dating actress, Charlotte Riley, 38, who he met while filming Wuthering Heights and they went on to marry in 2014.

A year later Charlotte gave birth to their first child and in December 2018 the couple’s second child, a son, was born.