Australian actor Hugh Jackman has subtly hinted that he may be the next man to play super spy hero James Bond.

Ever since current James Bond, Daniel Craig, rubbished the franchise in the lead-up to Spectre (released in 2015) speculation has been rife about who might replace the Brit given his scorn.

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On Monday morning (AEDT), Jackman sent out this tweet which launched the Bond rumour mill into overdrive.

SHAKEN, NOT STIRRED. pic.twitter.com/f0yCN6P6Uh

— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) January 10, 2016

A playful Jackman uttered the famous Bond phrase while taking a sip of what looks to be a martini.

Some eagle-eyed internet users even pointed out the video went for seven seconds, or 0:07 (James Bond 007).

In September Jackman revealed on The Project that he had been asked to play James Bond when Pierce Brosnan gave up the role.

He explained he was busy with X-Men 2 at the time: “Ah, I don’t think [it was] the right time,” Jackman said.

“But it was not an easy one to give up.”

However he did say if he were to be asked again that he would “seriously consider it”.

That same month, the author of an upcoming James Bond novel was criticised for saying actor Idris Elba was “too street” to play 007 in the popular film versions of the iconic series.

Anthony Horowitz, who was chosen to pen the next Bond novel by the Ian Fleming estate, told The Daily Mail his opinion was not based on race.

“For me, Idris Elba is a bit too rough to play the part. It’s not a colour issue,” Horowitz said. “I think he is probably a bit too ‘street’ for Bond. Is it a question of being suave? Yeah.”

He suggested fellow black actor Adrian Lester would be a better fit for the role.

Asked by Esquire if he had any plans to stay on as Bond after Spectre, Craig responded: “I don’t know. I really don’t know. Honestly. I’m not trying to be coy. At the moment I can’t even conceive it.

“At this moment, no. I have a life and I’ve got to get on with it a bit. But we’ll see.”

In October Roger Moore – who played James Bond seven times – announced that either Jackman or Damien Lewis should be the next 007.

Tom Hardy, Tom Hiddleston and Henry Cavill have also been connected to the role which is believed to have been vacated by Craig.

Jackman would be the second Australian to play the role of the British secret agent; George Lazenby starred as 007 in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service in 1969 at the age of 29.