Tom Hardy has subtle pitch for James Bond role in new Venom film

Tom Hardy has long been a favourite for the role of James Bond and it's now been teased that a sequence in Venom: the Last Dance shows what he would be like as 007

It's been teased ahead of its release that Venom: The Last Dance features a pitch over the speculation that its lead Tom Hardy could be the next actor to play James Bond.

Tom, 47, reprises his roles as Eddie Brock and symbiote Venom in the upcoming third instalment of the film trilogy. The sequel has been directed by his friend Kelly Marcel, 50, who also worked on the screenplays of all three films.

One sequence sees Eddie sporting a tuxedo and Kelly suggested recently that she got Tom to wear the outfit in part to tease his potential as secret agent James Bond in the 007 franchise. She told the Hollywood Reporter: "There's always been these rumors about [Tom] playing James Bond, so I may have been showing what [his] James Bond might look like." Kelly shared elsewhere in the interview: "I also loved the idea of him doing all of the third-act action sequence in an amazing suit and looking incredible."

Tom has been among the favourites to replace Daniel Craig in the role, created by the late author Ian Fleming. Daniel starred in the most recent five films in the franchise - with the latest, No Time to Die, released back in 2021.

Other names long rumoured to be options for the casting include Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Henry Cavill and Regé-Jean Page. Idris Elba has previously suggested that he wouldn't take up the role, whilst more recently Theo James dismissed the idea of playing the character himself.

It was however reported earlier this year that frontrunner Aaron, 34, had been offered the role of James Bond in the next film. A source told the Sun that a "formal offer [was] on the table," though that has since been disputed. A source subsequently told the BBC that there is "no truth in the rumours".

Bookmakers William Hill has Aaron at the top of the odds for the role this week, with odds of 11/10. He's followed-up behind by Theo, Paul Mescal and Callum Turner. James Norton, Regé and Damson Idris and Henry follow behind.

Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: "The search for the next James Bond is hotting up and we have seen a lot of support for British actor [Theo], who has narrowed from as big as 12/1 into 5/2 second favourite. Being preceded by [Aaron] who has been as short as 2/5 to step into 007's shoes, but has now drifted to 11/10 in the market, James may well have caught the eye of executives with his performance in The Gentlemen. There are still many names in the conversation, with [Paul and Callum] next in the market, both at 4/1, and [James] a 5/1 shot."

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