Tom Hiddleston's newest espionage series, "The Night Manager," is fueling rumors that he's going to be the next James Bond. The actor himself believes that he's primed to play secret agent 007. Will he replace Daniel Craig?
Hiddleston's casting as the character, Jonathan Pine, in the BBC TV adaptation of John Le Carre's novel has shown striking similarities to the Bond character. So much so that bookers have been receiving strong bets in favor of Hiddleston to play the iconic role against other actors like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba and Damien Lewis, per Independent.
After "The Night Manager" premiered on television Feb. 21, the 35-year-old actor received compliments for this portrayal, which has been likened to Ian Fleming's famous agent. "There are similarities in so far as Pine and Bond are granted a license above and beyond the law to do bad things for the greater good," he said in a Telegraph interview. "Bond has a 00 license to kill. I don't know if Pine is a 00 just yet..."
In a poll prepared by Time Magazine in November, Hiddleston's name also ranked high on the list of 100 actors who can potentially replace Craig. "If [the role] ever came knocking, it would be an extraordinary opportunity," the actor said, per another Telegraph piece. "I simply love the theme tune, the tropes and the mythology. I love the whole thing."
Hiddleston remarked that he's aware of the requirements of becoming James Bond; that there is a strict fitness training required for the role. But lucky for him, he's had some preparations on "The Night Manager" and his upcoming film "Kong: Skull Island." "I'm quite certain I'm not fit enough to be in the SAS, but I've made strides," he said.
Meanwhile, as the current actor playing James Bond, Craig hinted he's ready give up the part after the last Bond film, "Spectre." His contract is nearly up and he has said he wants to think about other things besides Bond, per Entertainment Weekly.
