Los Angeles: A betting war is brewing across the pond for who will be the next James Bond.
BoyleSports, an online bookmaker based in Ireland, has polled a new contender to take over the franchise, following Daniel Craig's eventual departure.
The name is Hardy. Tom Hardy.
"The Next James Bond market has certainly come alive with all the support coming in for Tom Hardy, who is now 4/1 from 6/1 to take over from Daniel Craig," said BoyleSports spokesman Liam Glynn.
The news is sure to leave Idris Elba fans shaken, not stirred. It follows Tuesday's social media outcry after 007 author Anthony Horowitz told the Daily Mail newspaper that Elba is "too street" to play the debonair English spy.
Elba is tied with former Homeland actor Damian Lewis as forerunner for the race with betting odds 3/1. Superman himself, Man of Steel star Henry Cavill, also has major support, with BoyleSports slashing the odds at 4/1 – matching Hardy.
"With the support showing no signs of drying up, we are expecting Tom Hardy to be the new favourite for the role sooner rather than later, which could result in BoyleSports being hit hard if Hardy lands the role," Glynn said.
Other men rounding out the top 10 for the bookmaker are Michael Fassbender, Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Dougray Scott, Lewis' Homeland co-star Rupert Friend and Elba's The Wire co-star Dominic West.
Although those close to the franchise expect Craig to reprise the role for at least one more sequel following the upcoming Spectre, Craig told Esquire, "I have a life and I've got to get on with it a bit."
"I really don't know. Honestly. I'm not trying to be coy," he told the magazine. "At the moment I can't even conceive it."
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