Tom Hanks on the next 007 - `You can`t have an American playing James Bond`

Tom Hanks last night pulled out of the race to succeed Pierce Brosnan in the James Bond, a move that was perhaps most distinguished by the fact that nobody knew he was in the running, reports The Guardian.

The double Oscar winner told American chat show host Conan O'Brien: "You can't have an American playing Bond; that's why they always cast an American to play Felix Leiter ... he's always standing on the submarine while Bond's making out with Halle Berry."

Hanks stars in the Coen brothers' remake of The Ladykillers, which opens here next week, and later this summer in Steven Spielberg's comedy The Terminal.

For those viewers in the USA who missed it last night, The Conan O'Brien show with guest Tom Hanks will be repeated on "Comedy Central" at 6pm EST.

Thanks to `Tux` for the alert.

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