Should Tom Hardy Be the Next James Bond?

With the Birmingham Mail releasing favorable odds on Tom Hardy being the next James Bond, the next question for Bond fans to ask is whether or not Hardy is actually right for the part. Certainly, a case can be made either way.

The Case For:

• First of all, the man can flat out act. Daniel Craig would be leaving some big shoes to fill, and so the role now requires someone with serious acting chops. Nobody would dispute Hardy’s ability, and his range is impressive.
• Action sequences won’t be an issue, as Hardy has demonstrated in films like Mad Max: Fury Road, This Means War, and Warrior.
• Get ripped for the role? No problem. Hardy has packed on serious muscle for many roles before, including The Dark Knight Rises and Bronson.
• Hardy is often sporting facial hair, so can he do “clean shaven” and look good in a suit? You bet. Hardy has that down.
• Interviews. A good Bond has to sell not only himself, but also the brand. Based on television interviews, there is no doubt that Hardy would represent the 007 franchise quite well.

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The Case Against:

• Is there such a thing as being over-qualified for a role? If so, this might be one of those cases. Hardy’s acting pursuits take him to extremes, in ways no Bond actor has gone. To a degree, Daniel Craig explored some pretty extensive roles, with Some Voices and Love Is the Devil, but nothing like his Layer Cake co-star, whose roles have stretched him across genres.
• Hardy might not want to commit to the role. If given the part, would he do more than two films? It is possible that playing Bond, which can be quite a demanding job in itself, may be too restrictive for Hardy, who has completed eleven films over the past six years, along with two television series.
• Can Hardy be a charmer? While he has built his reputation on action films, this may not be enough to make him a good Bond. There is also the matter of Bond’s charisma. Hardy’s experience wooing women on screen is very limited. This isn’t a deal-breaker, but it is certainly worth considering.