Give Tom Hardy my old licence to thrill
He’s got that Bond wiggle says Brosnan
HE IS best-known for playing gangsters and villains, but Tom Hardy should be the next James Bond, according to former 007 Pierce Brosnan. Brosnan believes Hardy, whose roles include playing both Kray twins in Legend, gangster Alfie Solomons in Peaky Blinders and Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, would be a worthy successor to Daniel Craig because he would give the secret agent a ‘bit of wiggle’. In an interview with today’s Event magazine, Brosnan describes Craig as ‘incredible’, adding: ‘He’s complained about doing the part because he’s put himself through a lot physically, but he will do the next movie, and then I think Tom Hardy could be a good Bond. ‘I’d be happy to see him do it. You need an actor who can put a bit of wiggle into it – that’s what makes Bond.’ Craig announced last month that he would star in a new Bond film, despite previously claiming that he would rather ‘slit his wrists’ than play the role for a fifth time. The movie, due for release in October next year, will be directed by Danny Boyle and reportedly earn Craig up to £50 million.
Hardy, 40, is a frontrunner to take the role next, as are Idris Elba and James Norton.
Brosnan admits that it took him several years to come to terms with being axed as 007 after playing the spy four times between 1995 and 2005.
Recalling how he arrived at Pinewood Studios in 2008 to film Mamma Mia!, he says: ‘I looked out of my dressing room window, saw a huge 007 on the wall opposite me and realised we were on the James Bond set.
‘That was the moment I faced up to my past. I had issues for many years but then you think, “I’m doing another great movie and I’m really happy.” Now I just have great feelings about Bond.’