What To Know About Aaron Taylor-Johnson—The Actor Reportedly ...
Years of speculation over who would take over playing iconic British spy James Bond after Daniel Craig may finally be over as U.K. tabloid The Sun reported Aaron Taylor-Johnson, a former child actor now known for his roles in big-budget films, was formally offered the job.
The Sun claimed Taylor-Johnson is set to play James Bond in upcoming films. (Photo by Jun ... [+] Sato/WireImage)
WireImage Key FactsTaylor-Johnson, 33, is an English actor who may be best known for playing the lead role in the 2010 film “Kick-Ass” and its 2013 sequel, “Kick-Ass 2.”
He also played Pietro Maximoff in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015), his highest-grossing film to date, and he is set to return to the MCU as the titular character in the upcoming movie “Kraven the Hunter.”
Taylor-Johnson won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in 2017 for his role in Tom Ford’s thriller “Nocturnal Animals.”
He began working at age six and starred in several films as a child, including “Shanghai Knights” (2003) and “The Illusionist” (2006).
He has starred in other high-grossing, big-budget films, including “Godzilla” (2014), Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” (2020) and “Bullet Train” (2022).
Taylor-Johnson told Numéro last week he finds it “charming and wonderful” that fans wanted him to play Bond, stating he considers it “a great compliment.”
Forbes has reached out to Eon Productions for comment.
The Sun reported Tuesday that Taylor-Johnson is set to accept the role of Bond and sign a contract this week. “Bond is Aaron’s job, should he wish to accept it,” a source told The Sun.
What To Watch ForWhen the next Bond movie will be released—and how long Taylor-Johnson will assume the role for. Barbara Broccoli, a producer of the Bond films for Eon Productions, previously told Variety that whoever is chosen for the Bond role would likely be committed for 10 to 12 years.
TangentSpeculation over who would succeed Craig as Bond has lingered since the actor confirmed in 2019 that his final appearance as the spy would be in the 2021 film “No Time to Die.” Taylor-Johnson has led betting odds for the role since tabloid reports claimed he had met with Broccoli to discuss the role. Other actors previously thought to be in contention included Henry Cavill, known for his role as Superman in the DC Extended Universe films, and “Bridgerton” actor Regé Jean-Page.
Surprising FactRumors had circulated for years that British actor Idris Elba was a leading contender to take over the Bond role, but he said some detractors “made the whole thing disgusting and off-putting, because it became about race.” Elba, who would have been the first Black actor to play Bond, said he was flattered by the rumors but told the Wall Street Journal in 2022 he doesn’t see Bond when he looks in the mirror.
Key BackgroundThe Bond franchise has spanned more than 60 years and six actors (prior to Taylor-Johnson’s casting), with 25 films released to date by Eon Productions and two films produced by other companies. The first Bond film, “Dr. No,” premiered in 1962 and starred Sean Connery as the first actor to portray the spy. Connery and Roger Moore have starred as Bond in seven films each, the most of any actor. George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Craig are the other actors who have played the iconic role, with Craig’s tenure—spanning five films from 2006 to 2021—being the most recent. The Bond movies are typically box office hits: “Skyfall” (2012) grossed more than $1.1 billion at the global box office, the franchise’s top earner, and every Bond film released this century has grossed at least $400 million worldwide.
Further ReadingAaron Taylor-Johnson: Speculation mounts again over new James Bond (BBC)
Who’s The Next James Bond? Aaron Taylor-Johnson Becomes A Frontrunner—Here Are The Others With The Best Odds (Forbes)
Meet Aaron Taylor-Johnson, the actor who could become the next James Bond (Numéro)
