Next James Bond Bets Put Tom Hiddleston As Lead Choice

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Although it has not yet been confirmed, Tom Hiddleston‘s name keeps cropping up among choices to play the next James Bond. Even bookies are in on the picks, as bets have apparently locked the star of “The Night Manager” as a top favorite.

BBC reports that Tom Hiddleston’s name has become the leading choice to play the next James Bond among betting sites. This followed especially after the actor was spotted meeting with Sam Mendes, the director of the Bond movies.

“There is no smoke without fire, and following the big gamble on Tom Hiddleston in the last 24 hours, we’ve had no choice but to pull the plug on the market,” said a spokesperson for Coral, a popular betting site in the U.K. Before Tom Hiddleston’s name emerged as the next James Bond, Idris Elba, Damian Lewis, Aidan Turner and Tom Hardy used to be the odd favorites.

The rumors about the next James Bond have been going on since current James Bond, Daniel Craig, expressed he’s giving up the role that he has played for the last 10 years. The actor is reportedly choosing to do a TV series for a cable channel in America next. Tom Hiddleston did not shy away from the fact that playing James Bond would be a career boost and a privilege for any actor.

“I simply love the theme tune, the tropes and the mythology,” he said in an interview in March, per The Guardian. “I love the whole thing. If it ever came knocking, it would be an extraordinary opportunity. And I’m very aware of the physicality of the job. I would not take it lightly.”

Bettors speculate that the official announcement regarding the next James Bond will be made in a matter of days, per Movie Web.