Tom Hiddleston has been keeping himself busy with a BBC Drama series, "The Night Manager," based on the novel by John Le Carre. Hiddleston has been getting rave reviews for the series and many have been calling his portrayal of Jonathan Pine, an undercover operative, an audition for his bid to become the next Bond. James Bond.
The British actor, who has gained Hollywood superstar fame for playing Loki in "Thor" and "The Avengers" movies, has been one of the front runners to take over the role of 007 ever since Daniel Craig made it clear that he would rather slash his wrists than play the world greatest spy again. Other potential Bonds in various lists also include Idris Elba and Angelina Jolie.
Hiddleston told The Sunday Times, that playing 007 would be an extraordinary opportunity and he would grab the chance to play him if he could.
"I simply love the theme tune, the tropes and the mythology. I love the whole thing. If it ever came knocking, it would be an extraordinary opportunity," he revealed in the interview.
He also acknowledged in the past that his "Night Manager" character bears many similarities to Bond.
"There are similarities insofar as Pine and Bond are granted a license above and beyond the law to do bad things for the greater good. Bond has a 00 license to kill. I don't know if Pine is a 00 just yet..." he said.
Hiddleston also shared that he is aware that the role of James Bond would require much more of him physically as an actor than any previous roles he has taken, and this is not something that he would take lightly. As production for his current film is underway, he is proving that he is not one to shy away from any heavy lifting and fitness training that would be required of him.
For his role as a SAS tracker in "Kong: Skull Island" Hiddleston joked that he is probably not in the best physical shape to be a SAS operative for real, however he is working on it.
Reportedly, with a smile on his face, he shared the excruciating training regimen he put himself through with ex-military men and SAS in order to prepare himself for "Kong."
And as far as his "The Night Manager" co-star, Tom Hollander, is concerned, Hiddleston is already "James Bond-like," revealing that he came to the rescue by peeing on him when he was stung by a nasty jellyfish while filming.
Truly the man is on a mission to become the next James Bond.
