Next James Bond: Barbara Broccoli shuts down Tom Hardy rumour

James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli has said that the hit spy franchise has not yet identified a replacement for Daniel Craig.

Craig’s last outing as 007, No Time to Die, is set to be released next spring, having been pushed back from April and then November as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Broccoli’s comments arrive shortly after it was rumoured that Bronson star Tom Hardy had already signed a deal to replace Craig as Bond.

The producer told Total Film: “I always say: you can only be in love with one person at a time.” 

“Once the film’s come out, then some time will pass, and then we’ll have to get on to the business of the future. But for now, we just cannot think about anything beyond Daniel.”

Broccoli has served as producer on the last eight Bond films, with No Time to Die set to be her ninth. 

The daughter of original Bond producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, she also worked as an assistant director on Octopussy in 1983, and A View to a Kill  in 1985.

While Hardy is currently considered the frontrunner to step into Craig’s shoes, a number of other actors are also frequently linked with the role.

These include Luther and The Wire star Idris Elba, whom many are keen to see take the role as a deviation from the franchise’s history of exclusively white lead actors.

Henry Cavill (The Witcher) is also often mentioned as a possible contender to be the next Bond.