English actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson has reportedly been offered the role of James Bond and will sign a contract soon.
English newspaper The Sun reported that Taylor-Johnson – who has starred in the Kick-Ass films and 2022’s Bullet Train, among others – has been offered the role, but nothing has been confirmed by ether the actor or Eon Productions, which handles the Bond franchise.
However, he has now been installed as favourite to land the role by bookmakers in the UK.
Taylor-Johnson, 33, has previously told Numero magazine that it was a “great compliment” to be linked with the role.
The next Bond movie – as yet untitled – is expected to start shooting later this year, production having been delayed by the Hollywood strikes that affected movies and TV shows for several months.
There has been speculation over who would take on the mantle of 007 ever since Daniel Craig, who has played Bond in the past five movies, ended his time in the role after the release of No Time To Die in 2021.
There have been many names linked with the iconic role since, including Idris Elba – who appeared to rule himself out by saying that, at 51, he was too old – and Tom Hardy, who will star in the upcoming third instalment of the Venom franchise.
Henry Cavill – who has played Superman, among other roles – has also long been touted as a favourite to take on the role. Another favourite with bookmakers is James Norton, who starred in 2019’s Little Women, but is also known in the UK for gritty dramas like Happy Valley.
Whoever takes on the role will be the seventh man to portray the secret agent on screen, following in the footsteps of Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Craig. There have been 25 Bond movies thus far, with the first, Dr No, released in 1962.
