New James Bond: Aaron Taylor-Johnson ‘offered 007 role’ and is ‘set to replace Daniel Craig’

Get our free weekly e mail for all the newest cinematic information from our movie critic Clarisse Loughrey

Get our The Life Cinematic e mail without cost

The actor who will shake up the James Bond franchise has been “revealed”, with British star Aaron Taylor-Johnson “expected to accept the role” imminently.

Ever since Daniel Craig introduced that he would bow out of the spy franchise after newest movie No Time to Die (2021), hypothesis has been rife over who would succeed him.

While rumours have included Tom Hardy, Bridgerton actor Regé-Jean Page and Idris Elba, who stated the “disgusting” race discourse round his attainable casting put him off the thought of taking part in Bond, it’s been claimed that the function has been provided to Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

According to The Sun, Eon Productions are hoping to begin filming the twenty sixth Bond movie later this yr, and 33-year-old Taylor-Johnson, whose credit embody Kick-Ass, Tenet and Bullet Train, is their alternative for the function.

A supply informed the outlet: “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 Independent has contacted Taylor-Johnson and Eon productions for remark.

In 2023, the actor reportedly sat down with producer Barbara Broccoli for a gathering that went “very well”, after there was hypothesis that he had filmed a secret audition in December 2022.

His alleged casting would corroborate claims made by Bond co-producer Michael G Wilson. who beforehand stated the staff was trying to make the brand new 007 a thirtysomething.

Taylor-Johnson himself failed to outright deny his attainable casting because the spy in an interview forward of his function in Sony’s Marvel spin-off Kraven the Hunter.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers solely. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews till cancelled

Try without cost

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers solely. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews till cancelled

Try without cost

In August 2023, when Esquire talked about that he was one of many favourites to change into the subsequent Bond, he stated: “As I’ve already told you, 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. You lose your f***ing mind if you do that. Your sense of worth and soul is gone. You need to understand what is integral to you and what feels right, and you’ve got to stay on track with what’s present in front of you. Kraven is what’s in front of me.”

He continued: “I’ve spent two years making Kraven. So all that hard work we put into trying to get that to where it is – that’s where I’m at right now.”

When requested if it was thrilling to take into account what might come subsequent, he replied: “I just focus on the things I can have in my hands right now – what’s in front of me right now.”

After the interview, Kraven the Hunter was delayed from October 2023 to August 2024.

If Taylor-Johnson, who gained a Golden Globe for his function in Tom Ford’s Nocturnal Animals, does find yourself taking part in the function, he would have scored the function over different contenders together with Richard Madden, James Norton and reigning Best Actor Oscar winner Cillian Murphy.

The actor has been married to movie director Sam Taylor Johnson, whom he met on the set of John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy, since 2012. They have two youngsters.