Tom Hardy just schooled Tom Hiddleston and Idris Elba on how to secure a big role.
The actor, who alongside his British contemporaries has been mooted as a potential replacement for Daniel Craig in the James Bond franchise, refused to discuss the role – because doing so could seriously damage his chances.
‘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,’ Hardy told The Daily Beast.
It’s definitely not the approach taken by his closest competitors for the part – Hiddleston and Elba – who have frequently been quoted talking about the possibility. Hardy 1 – 0 Hiddleston and Elba.
Hardy’s chances could further be increased by the fact that Christopher Nolan is believed to be the producers' first choice to direct the new film. He has previously worked with the director on three films – Inception, The Dark Knight Rises and the upcoming World War II epic Dunkirk. It’s certainly a decision that Hardy is on board with.
‘I wonder what the next installment of that franchise would become, and I think when you mention someone like Christopher Nolan, that’s a very powerful figure to bring into that world who could bring something new and create something profound—again,’ he explained.
Hiddleston was considered the favourite to play Bond after his award-winning appearance as a super-spy in The Night Manager, although his chances were dampened slightly by his very public relationship with Taylor Swift, according to some naysayers…
Meanwhile the current favourite is James Norton - star of the BBC's lush adaptations of War and Peace and Lady Chatterley's Lover, with Poldark's Aidan Turner at number 2 on the bookies' list and Hardy in third.
Watch this space.