Tom Hardy is now leading the betting odds to be the new Bond

All you have to do these days is mention in passing that you’d like to play James Bond and you’ll be the bookie’s favourite by teatime.

As such, Tom Hardy is now leading the pack to play 007 once Daniel Craig relinquished the tuxedo and Walther PPK.

Paddy Power is now offering pretty rubbish odds of 6/4, ahead of Aidan Turner and James Norton, coming hot on the heels of comments the Revenant star made during an interview earlier this week.

Asked about Bond – and specifically whether he’d be up for an interation of the secret agent directed by his pal Christopher Nolan – Hardy was effusive.

“Chris would be amazing! Wow, that would be cool. That would be so cool,” he told The Daily Beast, adding: “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! If I mention it, it’s gone. But Chris Nolan, what a fantastic director for a Bond movie. Because Daniel [Craig] is so good, and what [Sam] Mendes and Barbara [Broccoli] have done has been so impressive, that it would be a very hard reimagination to follow after.”

So while he has not said yes, neither has he said no.

In an eye-rolling statement, Paddy Power said: “Despite usually playing roles that are maniacal or mumbling, Tom surely won’t be able to say Dr No to this role.

“If the latest reports are right, Hardy could prove to be the Bane of my life – my only hope is that producers think he’s a tad too Kray for Bond.”

Does this mean people will stop pest Idris Elba about it now?

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