Aaron Taylor-Johnson becomes a frontrunner for the next James Bond

Aaron Taylor-Johnson becomes a frontrunner for the next James Bond
Fans are abuzz after a source has revealed Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the frontrunner to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond. But who really knows?

A report by The Sun has excited 007 fans as actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson is reportedly close to becoming the next James Bond.

According to the publication, the 32-year-old actor has filmed a “top secret screen test” at Pinewood Studios for the part.

“Aaron has impressed bosses so much that he has filmed one of the franchise’s famous gun barrel teaser scenes, something all the Bond actors do. That move takes him a step closer to signing a deal,” revealed the source.

According to bookmaker William Hill, Taylor-Johnson’s odds of being the next James Bond are now at 4/5. The English actor has already demonstrated his skills as an action star, recently starring in Bullet Train and Tenet, along with his breakout role in 2010’s Kick-Ass.

Earlier this year, Bridgerton star Regé-Jean Page became a frontrunner for the next James Bond. According to betting site Ladbrokes, the odds for Page to be the next 007 have been slashed as fans call for the handsome British-Zimbabwean actor to take up the role following Craig’s departure.

The betting company says Page’s odds put him in line with Henry Cavill and ahead of Tom Hardy and James Madden.

“It’s a reinvention of Bond,” said James Bond Producer Barbara Broccoli. “We’re working out where to go with him, we’re talking that through.”

“We’re reinventing who he is and that takes time,” she continued. “There isn’t a script and we can’t come up with one until we decide how we’re going to approach the next film. I’d say that filming is at least two years away.”

Here are the other actors who are considered to be the top contenders for the coveted role.

Tom Hardy

Hardy has long been a bookies’ favourite to replace Daniel Craig. With his rugged good looks and a string of action roles under his belt already, we can see why he would make a great 007. And it seems as though he’s keen – after an April Fools joke that he had accepted the role went viral, Hardy posted one of the fake articles to Instagram saying, “Dammit I was in my tux and on the runway good to go.”

Idris Elba

Ever since Elba flexed his action muscles playing a tough London cop in Luther, he’s been a firm favourite to play James Bond. While Elba says he would accept the role if offered it, he told Vanity Fair he finds it troubling that people don’t think he could play the part because he’s black. “You just get disheartened when you get people from a generational point of view going, ‘It can’t be.’ And it really turns out to be the colour of my skin,” Elba said. Recently, he is reported to have walked away from the franchise to explore other career opportunities.

James Norton

Norton is not the most recognisable name or face on the list, but the bookies have him neck and neck with favourite Tom Hardy. The 35-year-old actor is best known for his roles on British TV shows Happy Valley, Grantchester, War & Peace and McMafia. Norton has previously shut down rumours that he is in talks to take on the role, saying he hoped Daniel Craig “might do one or two more”.

Richard Madden

He’s played Prince Charming, King in the North and the home secretary’s bodyguard – and fans think Richard Madden is ready to step into the role of spy. In 2019, he played down talk of him taking on 007, saying: “It’s very flattering to be involved in that conversation at all, but it’s all just talk, and I’m sure next week it’ll be someone different.” Turns out he is still very much part of the conversation!

Sam Heughan

Outlander star Sam Heughan is considered a strong contender, but the actor has already auditioned for the role! He was considered for the part prior to the 2006 Casino Royale reboot, with the role instead going to Daniel Craig. At the time, there were talks of portraying Bond at a younger age.

Henry Cavill

Cavill would represent a departure from the more rugged Bond of recent years and back towards the tall, dark and handsome variety. But one James Bond expert has said Cavill is already too famous for the role. Ian Kinane, editor of the International Journal of James Bond Studies (yes, that’s a thing!) says that Cavill is “too big” to play Bond.

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