Tom Hardy has responded to an April Fools joke claiming he was taking over the lead in Spectre seemed to act as a farewell to the Daniel Craig era, with Bond riding into the sunset with his new love. The actor was non-committal about returning to the role for a long time, but he eventually agreed to return for one final adventure to say goodbye.

Of course, Bond is one of the most coveted roles in cinema, with actors like Idris Elba, Tom Hiddleston and Atomic Blonde. With Craig returning, the producers of the series are no doubt glad they don't have worry about replacements for at least a couple more years.

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Tom Hardy has often been cited as an ideal replacement when Craig leaves, which is why British newspaper The Express decided to revive the rumor for an April Fools Day gag claiming Craig had quit the movie, and Hardy was his replacement. It seems the actor himself caught sight of this 'joke' and took to his Instagram to have a little fun with it.

Hardy would be a strong choice for the role, but he'll be in his mid-40's by the time the role becomes available, and producers will likely want a younger performer who can commit to multiple sequels. Hardy also has a healthy movie career outside the franchise, so his fee for a potential Bond movie would be much higher than a newcomer. There's also the question of if he'd even want the part if a serious offer was made.

It seems like Danny Boyle will be the director of James Bond 25, with a script currently being developed while the filmmaker works on another project. Boyle is a strong choice for the director's chair and worked with Craig's Bond previously for a 2012 Olympics sketch. Many fans were disappointed with Spectre, and Craig has said he'd like to end his time with the franchise on a strong note, so he's committed to taking the time to get the movie right.

While James Bond 25 is currently aiming for a November 2019 release, with no script or confirmed start date it seems likely the movie will be pushed back.

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Source: Tom Hardy