• Tom Hardy is the odds-on favorite to become the next James Bond.
• The actor is already 43-years-old and won’t have many movies to contribute.
• The age gap between James Bond actors and leading ladies has become too apparent.

It seems all but confirmed that Tom Hardy is going to be the next actor  to take on the mantle of James Bond. The 52-year-old Daniel Craig’s “No Time to Die” is his final outing in the role, but his successor isn’t too far in terms of age. This doesn’t bode too well for the franchise’s future.

Tom Hardy Is Older Than The Ideal Age To Play James Bond

While there’s no official age to qualify as James Bond, the youngest actor so far has been then-29-year-old George Lazenby. That seemed to be an exception, as Lazenby is also the only Bond who hasn’t been British.

Roger Moore, who took on the role at 46, admitted he stretched his tenure on too long  and should have quit much earlier. Sean Connery had also voiced a similar opinion , arguing that the ideal age is someone in his early to mid-30s.

The issue isn’t solely due to Hardy’s age, rather the franchise’s recent direction of releasing a new film after long gaps. “No Time to Die” premieres five years after “Spectre”,  with the preceding two movies released across a span of seven years.

With a 43-year-old Hardy cast, there just won’t be many films to look forward to. A “James Bond” production lasts at the very least around two years, which means it won’t be long before Hardy reaches his fiftieth birthday.

Tom Hardy Is Busy With Other Projects & A Younger Actor Was A Better Option

Tom Hardy is by no means struggling for roles, with the actor keeping himself busy on both the big screen and television. Hardy currently headlines the series “Taboo”, has a role on “Peaky Blinders”, and will next be seen in “Venom: Let There Be Carnage.”

These roles are certain to keep him busy, meaning Bond will have to be navigated around his busy schedule. It’ll be a wonder if the actor can churn out even a couple films in the series before he bows out.

Casting a younger actor would have avoided this scenario. Fans on social media have already made their preference known, as seen in the tweet below.

Someone like Henry Cavill, who once auditioned for the role , is a far better choice. With the series already looking to return to the subtle storytelling style of classic Bond films, it would keep consistency within the narrative if actors aren’t recast because of their age.

The Age Gap Between Bond & His Love Interests Is a Problem

Tom Hardy’s casting will almost certainly see him opposite Bond girls who are about a decade than him. James Bond actors and the ages of their female leads  has become too striking to ignore.

As having strong female characters has become far more important, it would be a step backwards. Audiences don’t seem to find Bond’s playboy ways too charming anymore, much less be welcoming to the idea of an older man hooking up with multiple young women.

There’s no doubt that Tom Hardy’s star power and acting talent has made fans welcome the news of his casting, as seen in the tweet below.

In the long-run, though, the actor’s busy schedule and increasing age will be a hurdle for further films in the series. Rather than suffer delays in production or face controversies about Hardy’s pairing with young actresses, it’s better to go with a younger actor who can deliver a fair amount of James Bond performances for years to come.

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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of CCN.com.

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