Although Tom Hardy should appear in Rege-Jean Page or Tom Hardy will be Bond 26’s James Bond, there is another role in the 007 franchise that would fit the latter actor even better. In Bond’s 26th screen adventure, the suave super-spy needs to go back to being his old self.
The angst and grittiness of Daniel Craig’s James Bond era don't fit modern blockbuster cinema, where action thrillers have grown more over-the-top and self-aware than ever before. The likes of the Fast and Furious franchise and Mission Impossible movies have been much more fun and playful than recent 007 outings, something that could be ameliorated by a more fun-focused, goofier Bond 26. Tom Hardy could contribute to this sequel’s success, but not by playing Bond himself.
While Bond 26 doesn’t need to be as light as Die Another Day's inconsistent tone, the next James Bond adventure does need to remind viewers of how fun the franchise can be, and a great villain is the best way to ensure this. Hardy has impressed as campy villains like The Dark Knight Rises’ Bane before, and would steal the show in Bond 26 as a new version of Blofeld. Christoph Waltz’s iteration of the character was one of the sillier elements of the Craig-era movies, but that Blofeld still existed in the grounded world of Spectre and No Time To Die and, as such, his campy potential was limited by the (comparatively) austere atmosphere of the Craig movies. In contrast, Hardy could offer a much more over-the-top reinvention of the role for a new, more light-hearted incarnation of the James Bond franchise.
Not only that, but Hardy’s Mad Max and Venom franchise responsibilities could make it harder for the actor to fit Bond into his busy schedule. However, as Blofeld, Hardy would have a smaller role and would not need as much time to make an impression. Thus, the actor could help to bring back Bond’s fun side without taking on the role of 007 himself, allowing Hardy to play a pivotal part in reviving the franchise while still leaving the part of James Bond to a relative newcomer.
Some of the names attached to Bond 26 such as Hardy, Idris Elba, and Henry Cavill have garnered criticism due to their high profiles. It has been argued that the role of Bond should go to a lesser-known actor who doesn’t already have an established screen persona. This is arguably historical revisionism, given how famous older actors like Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan were before Bond. However, in the case of Tom Hardy, the argument makes sense, since the star has played scene-stealing villains numerous times and proven himself perfect for the job, meaning he would be an ideal fit for Blofeld. Whether Bond 26 takes advantage of this opportunity or not, however, won't be known until James Bond returns to the big screen.
