With Daniel Craig’s fourth, and potentially final, outing as legendary superspy James Bond set for this November, the rumour mills are operating at full speed trying to work out who the next Bond will be. The two heirs apparent, according to speculators and scoopers, are actors Tom Hardy and Idris Elba. The question is, with all the buzz surrounding both actors, which one would be the better Bond?
The two vital qualities that can make or break a Bond are the actor’s look and their presence. It’s important for new iterations to stay faithful to the character of 007, while still bringing a fresh take to the table. Hardy, coming off of this summer’s smash success Mad Max: Fury Road, would bring a blockbuster name to a series that traditionally acts as the vehicle to turn its lead into a star. Elba, while having some name recognition of his own, has the opportunity to follow the careers paths of former Bonds, actors who became well associated with the character and in some cases, defined by it. While Hardy may have more off-screen buzz, both actors would develop certain characteristics already explored by previous Bonds. One of the qualities that separate Craig’s 007 from prior incarnations has been the savagery and ruthlessness he brought to the role. While previous Bonds had engaged in a round of fisticuffs when necessary, Craig’s fight scenes have been a visceral experience to watch. Roger Moore’s 007 never went through the wince-inducing abuse that Craig had to suffer for the role; we always knew that he would get out alive, but there were moments when our faith faltered. The casting of Tom Hardy would allow filmmakers to continue with this punch-happy version of the character. Hardy has played plenty of brawlers in the past, from his breakout performance in Bronson to his blockbuster roles in The Dark Knight Rises and Mad Max. An advantage that Hardy has over past Bonds, or Elba, is that he has the build and the look of someone who could handle himself in a fight. Look to his role as Tommy Riordan in Warrior, a criminally underrated movie in my opinion, where Hardy looks absolutely shredded beside his more reasonably built costar Joel Edgerton. To go forward with this scrappier thuggish Bond, the actor playing him would need to physically fit the bill, and Tom Hardy is the best leading man to fill those shoes in Hollywood right now.
Elba, on the other hand, would bring Bond closer to his roots, as a sophisticated gentleman who is able to save the world, and get the girl, without getting his hands too dirty. Bond, unlike Bourne, shouldn’t need to fight to accomplish his mission. In older Bond films, James only needs to get his hands dirty when he’s caught in a bind that he can’t charm his way out of, or if the film needs to fill its action scene quota. Elba has the look and presence of an experienced agent, capable of solving any catastrophic inconvenience that might interfere with the mission. Elba would reinvigorate the suave, ladies’ man side of Bond without falling into the campy misadventures of Roger Moore.
While there is always a chance that Eon Productions will skip over these two big name actors and opt for an actor with less buzz (it has happened with every Bond casting so far), the inclusion of Tom Hardy or Idris Elba would bring a new Bond to leave fans shaken, not stirred.
About
The Ontarion publishes independent, student-produced news, opinion, and commentary for University of Guelph students so that they can make informed decisions in their lives. To do this, The Ontarion provides learning opportunities and training in journalism, media production, leadership, board governance, and other aspects of nonprofit news.
The Ontarion is the University of Guelph’s independent student newspaper. It began in 1951 as part of the Ontario Agricultural College and then began to represent the entire University of Guelph once it amalgamated in 1964. The Ontarion incorporated in May 1970 as The Ontarion, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation registered with the province of Ontario.