James Bond: ‘Tom Hardy is now the CLEAR favourite to replace Daniel Craig’ as odds SLASHED

On December 3 this year, Craig will begin shooting his fifth and final James Bond movie.

Bond 25, which still doesn’t have an announced title, is set for release on October 26, 2019 in UK cinemas.

But what happens after that?

Well all eyes will be on which actor will be chosen by the Bond producers to replace him.

And in recent month both Hardy and Norton have been neck and neck at the bookies.

But now the Mad Max star has seen his odds cut from 7-2 to 2-1, after strong support in bets over the last couple of days.

A Coral spokesman said: “It is easy to see why punters are backing Tom Hardy to play the next James Bond and following a flurry of bets behind the British actor.

“He is now the clear favourite to be the next 007.”

Meanwhile Norton is in second place at 5-2 followed by Jack Huston at 6-1 and Idris Elba and Aidan Turner at 8-1.

Last month former Bond star Pierce Brosnan backed Hardy to replace Craig.

He said: “Daniel Craig has been an incredible Bond. He’s very physical, he looks lethal. You genuinely believe this is someone who could kill a man.

“He will do the next movie, and then I think Tom Hardy could be a good Bond.”

On April Fools Day this year Express.co.uk ran a prank story saying Hardy had been announced as Craig’s replacement.

Amusingly Hardy himself posted a picture from the article on his Instagram, playing along with the gag somewhat.

Hardy wrote: “Dammit I was in my tux and on the runway. Gtg… no drama. RTB. Headed back to NOLA stood down 19.”

And naturally this further confused his fans, with some assuming he’d actually been cast as James Bond.