Rumour has it that acclaimed British actor, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, will be succeeding Daniel Craig in the iconic role of James Bond. Having gained notable recognition for his performances in ‘Kick-Ass’ and ‘Nowhere Boy’, the 33-year-old has been considered a strong candidate for some time now to be the next 007. According to The Sun, movie production company Eon Productions, which has been responsible for producing most of the film adaptations from Ian Fleming’s much-loved novels, has offered Taylor-Johnson the lead role. It’s predicted that he will be signing the contract and commencing shooting later this year at the prestigious Pinewood studios in Buckinghamshire.
Just recently, bookmakers Ladbrokes declared Taylor-Johnson the most probable actor to take over the reins from Craig. In his favour are the odds that place him ahead of ‘Man Of Steel and The Witcher’ actor Henry Cavill, ‘Snowfall’ actor Damson Idris, and ‘Lady Macbeth’ star Cosmo Jarvis.
Ladbrokes’ Alex Apati said that there’s been a surge of interest in Cosmo Jarvis, who’s becoming a genuine challenger for the role. Taylor-Johnson isn’t a stranger to the superhero world. He recently finished shooting for the Marvel superhero film, ‘Kraven The Hunter’ and is also slated to appear in ‘The Fall Guy’ alongside Hollywood A-lister Ryan Gosling.
Taylor-Johnson was quoted by Numero Magazine expressing delight over being considered for the role, he said “It’s absolutely delightful and flattering that people see me in that role. I take it as a high praise’.’ In an earlier discussion, actor Rory Kinnear and Young Bond author Charlie Higson dismissed the concept of a ‘front-runner’ for Bond being the person who eventually lands the role. Kinnear has had an illustrious Bond career and played the role of Bill Tanner in the last four Bond films.
Higson, an actor himself and the creator of the young Bond series, remarked on The One Show in January of the previous year that he often sympathized with those named in connection to the 007 role. He mentioned that they are typically not the ones eventually chosen, as Eon Productions, the makers of the films, are known for maintaining secrecy around the real choice. In a conversation with the PA news agency in May 2023, he alluded to the fact that if an actor is mentioned in the context of “being contemplated” for the next Bond, it probably means they’ve been dismissed.
Higson expanded on Eon’s unexpected selection process, citing Daniel Craig’s appointment as an example. He shared his surprise, stating that no one perceived Craig as a potential Bond candidate. The speculation would have been met with disbelief.
The narrative then shifts to Taylor-Johnson, widely recognized for his roles in Avengers: Age Of Ultron and Nocturnal Animals. Father to two daughters with wife Sam Taylor-Johnson, who is over two decades his senior, he also has two stepdaughters. The pair first crossed paths during the filming of Nowhere Boy, a film Sam directed.