British actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson has been formally offered the role to succeed Daniel Craig as the next James Bond.
Sources close to the production have revealed that Taylor-Johnson, known for his role in the “Kick-Ass” series, is likely to accept the role of 007, succeeding Daniel Craig who has portrayed the legendary spy of MI6 for a decade and a half.
The production company behind the Bond series, Eon Productions, is gearing up to commence filming this year.
An insider has shared, “Bond is Aaron’s job, should he wish to accept it. The formal offer is on the table, and they are waiting to hear back.”
“As far as Eon is concerned, Aaron is going to sign his contract in the coming days, and they can start preparing for the big announcement.”
The production of the next Bond film faced delays due to strikes in Hollywood last year.
However, it’s been confirmed that script development is underway, with plans to shoot at the renowned Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire.
At 33, Aaron was a strong contender for the role, competing against acclaimed actors such as Cillian Murphy, Idris Elba, Henry Cavill, and James Norton.
Today, the betting company Coral adjusted the odds for Aaron to assume the iconic role initially portrayed by Sean Connery in 1962’s Dr. No, positioning him as the favorite with odds of 2/1.
When asked last week about the possibility of becoming Bond, Aaron expressed, “I find it charming and wonderful that people see me in that role. I take it as a great compliment.”
In 2022, it was disclosed that Aaron had been secretly auditioning for the role, impressing Bond franchise lead Barbara Broccoli during tests at Pinewood Studios.
Originally from High Wycombe, Bucks, Aaron has built a notable career with roles in “Kick-Ass” and the “Avengers” movies.
His acting journey began in the 2000 film “The Apocalypse” alongside Richard Harris, followed by roles in the 2008 teen flick “Angus, Thongs And Perfect Snogging” and the 2022 action movie “Bullet Train” with Brad Pitt.
His portrayal of a psychopath in the 2016 movie “Nocturnal Animals” earned him a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor, significantly boosting his candidacy for Bond.
A source stated, “Aaron may not be the best known in his field, but he is an incredibly talented actor. His role in ‘Nocturnal Animals’ showed his depth as an actor.”
“He is the perfect person to play Bond and will pick up well from where Daniel left off.”
At 56, Craig retired his Walther PPK pistol following the 2021 release of “No Time To Die.” The film concludes with a dramatic twist, seemingly ending Bond’s life.
Given Bond’s apparent demise, the continuation of the series in the timeline remains a mystery. This final outing contributed to over £600 million in worldwide box office earnings.
Daniel’s tenure as Bond includes roles in “Casino Royale” (2006), “Quantum Of Solace” (2008), “Skyfall” (2012), and “Spectre” (2015).
However, his relationship with the character soured over time, culminating in his controversial statement about preferring to “slash my wrists” than return as 007.
