Don't expect Tom Hardy to be the next 007-- in fact, no one should be expected right now.

There have been constant rumors back and forth on who would be the next James Bond with speculation landing on Hardy as well as Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba and Gillian Anderson. But in Saturday's report from The Telegraph, it was implied from director Sam Mendes that none of these candidates are up for the role.

And whoever does end up with the part, it will have nothing to do with popularity nor how much a certain amount of people like this person.

"There's this constant debate about who's going to be the next Bond," Mendes said. "The truth is- and here's the headline: it's not a democracy. It's not the X Factor, it's not the EU referendum, it's not a public vote. [Producer] Barbara Broccoli chooses who's going to be the next Bond: end of story."

It's unclear who will eventually land the part, but Mendes pointed out that no one should be making any big assumptions anytime soon.

"I can guarantee whatever happens with it, it will not be what you expect," he said. "That's what [Broccoli's] been brilliant at, and that's how it'll survive. It's not a public vote, and I think we're in an age where everything is deemed voteable on. Some things just aren't and it's better that way."

Daniel Craig has been the latest Bond, someone Mendes was actually not that enthusiastic about before.

"At that point I would have said he was totally miscast," the director admitted. "At that point, to me, Bond was urbane, witty, eyebrow-raising. And Daniel was all about intensity and commitment and seemed wrong to me. And I said that at the time, he has cast, but I was completely wrong. Sometimes you just don't see it coming."

Tags: Tom Hardy james bond