tom4

The last time we talked about Tom Hiddleston’s “chances” for being named the new James Bond, it was several weeks back, when Frederick Forsyth, acclaimed spy-novelist, told British outlets that he got a “a tip” from someone close to Bond producer Barbara Broccoli, and that there was and is “no way” that Hiddleston will be named the new Bond. I believed the story because I felt the same way – Tom was never really in the running, and Broccoli likely has her eye on several actors, and Tom didn’t even make the cut for the short-list. Many would argue that the Tiddlebanging of 2016 completely ruined his chances, but I have argued from the start that Tom would just be a bad choice overall. But according to a Daily Express columnist, Hiddles still thinks he’s in the running.

When Tom Hiddleston embarked on his very public romance with popstrel Taylor Swift, 26, reports claimed he had relinquished any opportunity he may have had to replace Daniel Craig as 007. However, it seems that the British actor, 35, is still clinging white-knuckled to his dream of playing Bond. And his antics with the young Taylor (even donning a T-shirt embossed with the words I heart TS) have apparently not deterred Bond producer Barbara Broccoli from considering him for the role.

When he is not jetting across the globe to spend time with his pop star paramour, Hiddleston is learning to perform his own stunts on the Australian Gold Coast where he is filming Thor: Ragnarok with Leeds-born stunt co-ordinator Ben Cooke. I am told: “He has been trying to emulate Daniel Craig and do some of the stunts himself and push himself further than he normally would. When he is not over in the US with Taylor, he runs, does weights every day and hangs around the stunt department.”

Says my man with the clapperboard: “This is all part of a subtle campaign to show he still has what it takes to take on the role of Bond.”

Other names in the running for the role include Idris Elba, 43, Damian Lewis, 45, Aidan Turner, 33, James Norton, 31, and Jason Statham, 49.

[From The Express]

If Tom Hiddleston still thinks he has a chance at playing James Bond, then I say bless his heart. Bless his boots, bless his “I Heart T.S.” t-shirt and bless his one gym outfit. I think that Tom probably is working out a lot these days, but it’s not because he’s undergoing a subtle Bond campaign. It’s because he’s back to work on a Marvel film and he sees Chris Hemsworth’s ripped Thor physique and Tom is like, “Sh-t, I need to get my ass in gear.” Plus, Tom is never really the beer-gut and hiatus-beard type: he’s quite a runner, isn’t he? Like, he ALWAYS runs, no matter where he is. So no, I don’t think Tom even believes he’s seriously got a chance to play James Bond. I don’t think he’s that dumb/naïve.

tom5

Photos courtesy of Pacific Coast News.
tom1
tom2
tom3
tom4
tom5