Tom Hiddleston: James Bond Role Would Be ‘An Extraordinary Opportunity’
Tom Hiddleston has fuelled rumors that he might ultimately replace Daniel Craig as James Bond by insisting that the role would be an “extraordinary opportunity.”
During his interview with the Sunday Times, via Guardian, Tom Hiddleston admitted that he is a huge James Bond fan and that he wouldn’t take the part on likely if he was cast.
Tom Hiddleston, who is currently doing the rounds to promote his turn in the BBC’s adaptation of John le Carre’s The Night Manager, admitted that if “it ever came knocking” the role of James Bond would be an “extraordinary opportunity.”
“You’re a cool cucumber aren’t you?” @twhiddleston‘s Pine keeps his poker face even with bruises. #TheNightManager pic.twitter.com/QVT2riUZRu
— Radio Times (@RadioTimes) March 6, 2016
He didn’t stop there, though, because Tom Hiddleston went on to explain that, during the production of King Kong: Skull Island, which took place in Hawaii, the entire cast and crew went to see the latest installment in the James Bond series, Spectre. And Tom Hiddleston was immediately reminded why he adored the franchise.
“I’m a huge fan of the series,” Tom Hiddleston continued in his discussion with the publication. “We all went to see Spectre when we were shooting Skull Island in Hawaii. I simply love the theme tune, the tropes and the mythology. I love the whole thing. If it ever came knocking, it would be an extraordinary opportunity.”
And Tom Hiddleston was quick to point out that he knows he’d need to improve his physique in order to play the part of 007, as he continued, “And I’m very aware of the physicality of the job. I would not take it lightly.”
But what are the chances that Tom Hiddleston will actually get the part? Well, the 35-year-old actor, who is primarily known for his work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the captivating villain Loki in Thor, The Avengers, and Thor: The Dark World, revealed that he saw his name on a recent list of the 100 actors who might play Bond, and he was ecstatic just to be included.
“Time magazine ran a poll and there were, like, 100 actors on the list,” Hiddleston explained. “Including Angelina Jolie. But, yes, it’s nice to be included in the 100.”
Bookmakers currently have Tom Hiddleston at 10/1 to replace Daniel Craig as 007. That makes him the sixth-favorite, behind the likes of Tom Hardy and Idris Elba, who are number one and number two, respectively, on the list. The top five are then rounded out by Damian Lewis, Aidan Turner, and Henry Cavill, the latter of which has already proven his cinematic mettle by leading the Superman franchise.
We’re still not too sure whether Daniel Craig is returning as James Bond following the release of Spectre. Craig has played Bond since 2005, starring in the likes of Casino Royale, Quantum Of Solace, Skyfall, and most recently, the rather divisive Spectre.
Tom Hiddleston // February 9, 1981 pic.twitter.com/MIhyd337mg
— Han(nah) Solo (@BB8Barnes) February 26, 2016
It’s believed that Daniel Craig is contracted to one more James Bond film.
However, while out promoting his recent turn as the character, the actor fuelled speculation that he wouldn’t be returning by telling Time Out that he would “rather break this glass and slash my wrists” than make another Bond film. He then added, “We’re done. All I want to do is move on. If I did another Bond movie, it would only be for the money.”
Daniel Craig also passed on some advice to the actor lucky enough to replace him by simply insisting, “All I care about is that if I stop doing these things we’ve left in a good place and people pick it up and make it better. Make it better, that’s all.”
[Image via Marvel Studios]
