An AI bot has predicted Tom Hardy as the next James Bond - after creating a near-identical portrait of the Hollywood star based on the nation's favourite candidates. A survey revealed the UK's top three actors to slip into the iconic spy's shoes are Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, and Cillian Murphy.
The AI image generation tool was asked to produce a portrait of what the next Bond could look like by combining their facial features. The outcome left online slot site Rainbow Riches Casino, who commissioned the survey, shaken but not stirred with an eerily uncanny likeness to the Mad Max and Venom star.
The image featured the star's brooding looks, chiselled jawline and facial hair. The AI bot also concocted images of what the nation's 'Ultimate' 007 and Bond girl would look like.
Of the 2,000 Brits quizzed about who would be the perfect actor to take on the iconic role, Tom Hardy was the front-runner scooping 24% of the votes. In second place was Idris Elba with 17%, followed by Cillian Murphy (9%) and Henry Cavill (8%).
Tom was the number one choice among all but one of the age groups - as those over 65 favoured the oldest candidate Idris Elba, who scored fifth (20%) of the older generation's votes. One in six (16%) Gen Z-ers wanted Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy to take up the role, and Idris Elba was their third choice with 12% of the vote.
However Millennials placed Witcher star Henry Cavill, rather than Murphy, in their top three. Bridgerton’s heartthrob Regé-Jean Page, and singer-turned-actor Harry Styles who starred in Don’t Worry Darling, obtained just 2% and 4% of votes respectively from the British public.
The AI bot Midjourney also created the 'ultimate' James Bond combining the facial features of previous Bond actors from the last 60 years. To date there have been 25 James Bond films, where 007 was played by seven different actors including Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.
Combining the facial features of the previous Bond actors, the AI produced its version of the 'ultimate' James Bond, which has a passing resemblance to Fast and Furious’s Luke Evans. But it could be suggesting that Daniel Craig should reconsider handing the role over to another actor, with the portrait also carrying his likeness.
No female actors made the top 10 preferred options in the survey. Only 1% of Brits see Lashana Lynch, who starred as MI6 agent Nomi in No Time to Die and even took the 007 ‘title’ for a while, as the perfect fit to play the leading role in the next movie.
Jodie Comer was the most popular female actor on the list but still only received 2% of the votes. The AI bot also combined the facial features of all the previous Bond girls to create the 'ultimate' Bond girl, who looks similar to The White Lotus' Alexandra Daddario and Captain America star Hayley Atwell.
Helen Smith, Senior Brand Manager at Rainbow Riches Casino, said: "Ever since it was announced that No Time To Die was Daniel Craig’s last James Bond film, rumours have been circulating about who the next James Bond will be. Our research found Tom Hardy would be a popular choice to be the next 007, with Idris Elba also a fan favourite. It seems AI agrees Tom Hardy really ‘looks the part’ too."
For more information, visit rainbowrichescasino.com/uk/the-next-james-bond
Top 10 actors Brits want to be the next Bond:
1. Tom Hardy (24% of votes)
2. Idris Elba (17%)
3. Cillian Murphy (9%)
4. Henry Cavill (8%)
5. Harry Styles (4%)
6. Tom Hiddleston (3%)
7. James Norton (2%)
8. Jamie Dornan (2%)
9. Regé-Jean Page (2%)
10. Richard Madden (2%)
