Achi news desk-
London, United Kingdom –
Aaron Taylor-Johnson is the latest actor said to have been offered a license to kill and succeed Daniel Craig as the new James Bond.
The “Kick-Ass” star is no stranger to action films and at 33 is a good age to join the franchise, as producers are likely to want a 10-year commitment to the role.
Ever since Craig announced he was retiring his tuxedo after five outings as 007 – the last in 2021’s “No Time to Die” – speculation has been wild about which actor will take on the coveted role.
Bond producers have not commented on the Taylor-Johnson rumours.
Speculation about the next Bond is a frequent topic (sometimes even before the job is available), leading British actors to adopt various strategies and responses when the subject comes up.
One of the most prominent names in the frame over the last few years is Idris Elba, although producer Barbara Broccoli said in 2022 that the “Luther” star had ruled himself out.
“He probably said he was out,” she told The Associated Press. “We love Idris and he’s been a great friend and we love him as an actor. But I think he feels like a 10- or 12-year commitment or a 15-year commitment might be a little bit too much for him.”
“You know, it’s a rumor that’s stuck with me,” Elba said in 2023. “I think I’m the most famous ‘Bond’ actor who never actually played the part. So what can I say? I’ll take that.”
Elba has high profile supporters including Matt Damon. “I think it’s great. I’ll watch him in anything and he makes everything he’s in better and it would improve that franchise.”
“Inception” and “Dunkirk” star Tom Hardy was named as the next Bond back in 2015, although he claimed he hadn’t “heard anything” about speculation in the press.
“I think answering something like this immediately means you’re out of the running. So there’s my place,” he joked.
Luke Evans, who has starred in a wide variety of films and TV series from “The Hobbit” to “Beauty and the Beast” to “Nine Perfect Strangers,” felt that his dream of playing Bond had slipped away.
“By the time they cast him again, I’ll be too old,” the 44-year-old actor told The Associated Press in 2022.
Richard Madden quashed rumors of his Bond role at a press conference for “Rocket Man” at Cannes back in 2019.
“It’s really nice to be part of that conversation at all. But it’s all just talk and I’m sure next week you’ll be a different person,” he laughed.
Other names linked to the role in recent years include Regé-Jean Page, who rose to fame in “Bridgerton” as the Duke of Hastings, Theo James, who won an Emmy nomination for his role in “The White Lotus ,” and Henry Golding. , star of “Crazy Rich Asians.”
Every time Golding has appeared on a red carpet wearing a tuxedo, rumors swirl that he is the next 007, but he remains tight-lipped.
“He’s a cultural icon. That’s all I can say,” he smiled.
