The hunt for the next James Bond has taken another strange turn, as Tom Hardy, 47, has emerged as the public’s favorite to take over the legendary spy’s mantle. Since Daniel Craig’s 15-year tenure came to an end with 2021’s No Time to Die, speculation has been running wild about who will take on the role next.

After the announcement of Craig’s departure from the iconic franchise, there has been tremendous debate among the fans and the experts. One name that came forward as the strong contender for Bond was Aaron Taylor-Johnson, while there were also talks about Paul Mescal and Theo James. Now, the most recent data would indicate that the upper hand of opinion in the general public may belong to Hardy.

Recent fan eyes caught on some interesting dress by James Norton while shooting his latest drama for ITV called Playing Nice. During an important scene from the third episode of the show, Pete Riley attends an elite black-tie gala. Most men were dressed in formal tuxedos, whereas Norton donned a normal suit-and-tie for the evening – a very curious choice, especially if taken into consideration that people think this to be an ode to secret casting for the latest Bond movie.

While rumor on Bond casting continues to circulate, the internal problems appear even more critical. According to rumors, the internal clash between long-time Bond producer Barbara Broccoli and Amazon executives surfaced. An explosive report from The Wall Street Journal reveals that Broccoli supposedly tore into Amazon’s approach to the franchise, branding some of their higher-ups as “f***ing idiots.” The reported falling-out leaves *Bond 26* without a script, storyline, or leading actor, adding more complications to already heated discussions over who should take on the role.

Despite these odds, a new research by BetVictor reveals that Hardy has become the people’s favourite choice for Bond. According to the study, Hardy garnered over 33.47% of the vote, thereby handing him quite a commanding lead. Henry Cavill, more famous for his iconic performance as Superman, placed second, garnering 22.31% while Idris Elba, another long-time darling of the fans, secured 16.73%.

Whoever gets the gig, the next Bond will be playing in massive footsteps. Decade by decade, Bond actor leaves a mark upon the franchise as an icon. There was Sean Connery’s sophisticated, effortlessly cool, and always a bit arrogant; Craig is gritty, rough around the edges, and altogether much more emotive. Each of them brought their unique flavor.

The BetVictor poll not only questioned the respondents on who might be the future Bonds but also asked the name of the all-time favorite who played the iconic spy. With the results, it was clearly seen that Sean Connery, the very first Bond, is still the favorite at 34.66%. Daniel Craig, the modern-day Bond, took the second slot with 24.7%, followed by Roger Moore, at 16.73%.

No script is in place, no lead has been confirmed, and tensions behind the scenes continue, but one thing is certain-at least, from the mouths of fans: Tom Hardy is the man for the job. Now, whether or not the producers of this series will find him good enough to play James Bond in his movie remains to be seen- but surely, his rugged charm, undeniable screen presence, and action-hero credentials make him more than fit for the coveted 007 role.