Jewish actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson is rumoured to have been "formally offered” the role of James Bond for the next film in the popular franchise, according to a report by the Sun, and could become the first Jewish actor to portray the illustrious 007 spy.
Speculation began early last year when Taylor-Johnson, 33, known for his versatility across roles in Kick-Ass, Bullet Train and Nowhere Boy, was rumoured to have met with Bond producer Barbara Broccoli for a secret audition, through which he became the frontrunner for the coveted role.
Taylor-Johnson and Eon Productions, the company behind the Bond films, have not confirmed these rumours, but speculation has remained steady since former Bond actor Daniel Craig stepped away from the role after the franchise’s last film, No Time to Die, released in 2021.
According to the report by the Sun, an insider source said: “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.”
It was reported that the next Bond movie had been delayed due to last year’s Hollywood strikes. Other actors rumoured to have been up for the role include Cillian Murphy, James Norton, Idris Elba and Henry Cavill.
Actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson, winner of Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for 'Nocturnal Animals,' poses in the press room during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
When pressed on the possibility of playing Bond during an interview with Esquire last year, Taylor-Johnson remained vague: “It’s not really for me to say anything," he said. “I have to go by the beat of my own drum. It’s my own path, what feels intuitive to me. I’ve never made a decision based on other people’s perspectives, or their judgments, or their expectations."
Born Aaron Perry Johnson in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, his mother Sarah is Jewish with Russian ancestry. He first found fame playing a teenaged John Lennon in the 2009 biographical film Nowhere Boy, directed by his now-wife Sam Taylor-Wood. The couple, despite a 23-year age gap, have been married since 2012 and have two daughters. Taylor-Johnson subsequently appeared in Anna Karenina, Godzilla and Nocturnal Animals, for which he won a Golden Globe and a Bafta nomination.
He will play the title role in the upcoming superhero film Kraven the Hunter, which is set for an August release date. If Taylor-Johnson is chosen as the next James Bond for the 26th film in the franchise, he will join an elite group of just seven other actors to have portrayed Ian Fleming’s iconic character.
