Now that Daniel Craig's time as the iconic spy is over, Aaron Taylor-Johnson could be the perfect James Bond casting for Bond 26. 2021 marked the end of Daniel Craig's portrayal of 007 with No Time To Die killing his James Bond. The finality of Craig's James Bond era meant that the future of the franchise once again involved recasting the character. This has led to endless speculation about who will be the next James Bond, following in the footsteps of Daniel Craig, Pierce Brosnan, and others. Very few details have been shared about who could take over, with the studios reportedly wanting a younger actor to sign on.
With popular fan casts like Idris Elba and Henry Cavill out of the question, Bond 26's casting rumors have now turned to Aaron Taylor-Johnson. The actor has long been considered a strong candidate to play the next 007. The confirmation that Aaron Taylor-Johnson met with Bond producer Barbara Broccoli and that it went well positions him as the front-runner for the leading role. Only time will tell who the Broccoli family selects as the new 007, but they appear to be on the right track. Based on his career to this point and the legacy of the franchise, Aaron Taylor-Johnson's James Bond casting would be perfect.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson Has Everything A James Bond Actor Needs
Whoever becomes James Bond next will put their own spin on the character, just as past actors have done, but there are still certain hallmarks that each portrayal has. James Bond is always intelligent, fearless, charming, capable in combat, and more. Following in Daniel Craig's footsteps specifically, the MI6 spy was modernized and turned into more of an action star. All these qualities are certainly what franchise producers are looking for when it comes to casting the next James Bond. The good news is that Aaron Taylor-Johnson's career to this point shows signs that he is more than up for the task of being 007.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson has shown his charming side at times throughout his career, but it is not often a focal point of the characters he plays. The best signs are from earlier in his career, such as 2012's Anna Karenina. The action star requirements that come with playing James Bond are something he is more familiar with. He's had action-heavy roles in the past, like with the Kick-Ass franchise, but his more recent role in Bullet Train is a greater showcase. Aaron Taylor-Johnson made Tangerine a skilled assassin and also brought some charm to the character, making it an excellent unofficial audition to be James Bond.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson Has Proven His Character Versatility
Another point in favor of Aaron Taylor-Johnson's James Bond casting is his versatility throughout his career. The actor has played everyone from superheroes and charming love interests to hardened soldiers and despicable criminals. Through it all, Aaron Taylor-Johnson has managed to prove that there is no singular character archetype that defines his skills. He is an incredibly skilled performer with the range to play any Bond that the next franchise requires. So whether Bond 26 introduces a 007 who is closer to Sean Connery or Pierce Brosnan than Daniel Craig, Aaron Taylor-Johnson can do it.
In of what different qualities Aaron Taylor-Johnson can bring to the role, this could include adding a few new quirks to the character. The actor has often shined more in ing roles than starring ones in the past, but that is arguably because the former gives him a chance to create unexpected performances. Whether it was his scene-stealing role in Tenet or his terrifying performance in Nocturnal Animals (which got him a Golden Globe win), Aaron Taylor-Johnson's mannerisms and accents could be a way to give audiences a very different 007 in Bond 26.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson Is Ready To Lead His Own Franchise
Headlining the next James Bond franchise would also be a natural step for Aaron Taylor-Johnson's career. He has had the opportunity to lead a franchise before with Kick-Ass, and he could get another shot after 2023 if Kraven the Hunter performs well enough for Sony. When Aaron Taylor-Johnson is not delivering memorable turns in smaller dramas, he has spent plenty of time in other franchises in ing roles. His Marvel Cinematic Universe ing role as Quicksilver in Avengers: Age of Ultron and lead role in Godzilla were both thought to be the beginning of long runs in the respective franchises. Instead, they were one-off appearances.
The years of working in other franchises have now made Aaron Taylor-Johnson primed for one of his own. Even outside established franchises, the actor landed critical roles in action films by Christopher Nolan (Tenet) and David Leitch (2022's action movie Bullet Train) that could have potentially become franchises. The latter even landed him a significant role in Leitch's new action franchise The Fall Guy, starring Ryan Gosling. Aaron Taylor-Johnson taking the lead role in James Bond would be the prize for years of hard work.
Bond 26 Needs A Younger 007
Aaron Taylor-Johnson playing James Bond in Bond 26 also lines up with comments about the desire for a younger 007 that the franchise needs. Franchise co-producer Michael G. Wilson suggested that whoever is cast as the next James Bond will be in their thirties, allowing 007 to be established enough as an agent to earn that title but also young enough to have long-lasting franchise potential. Aaron Taylor-Johnson is currently 32 years old and turns 33 in summer 2023. That makes him slightly older than Sean Connery was when he helped bring James Bond to the screen for the first time, but younger than more recent interpretations.
In comparison to how old past James Bond actors were when they began their stints, Aaron Taylor-Johnson would be on the younger side of the list. Sean Connery was 31 when Dr. No was in production, while George Lazenby was only 30 years old in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Roger Moore is the oldest James Bond actor in their debut, as he was 45 in Live and Let Die. Timothy Dalton similarly played an older Bond as he was 41 in The Living Daylights, and Pierce Brosnan did the same as a 42-year-old 007 in Goldeneye. Craig was 38 in Casino Royale and made James Bond's age slightly younger.
James Bond Can Mirror Daniel Craig's Bond Journey
The youthfulness that Aaron Taylor-Johnson's James Bond could have can allow the next 007 to mirror Daniel Craig's journey in the role. Even if Bond 26 takes a few more years to make, Aaron Taylor-Johnson will still be several years younger than Craig throughout his run. This would allow him to easily play 007 for the next decade without any issue, as long as the films are successful. Even if Aaron Taylor-Johnson's James Bond casting does not lead to a 15-year run like Craig's, there is enough time for him to star in a trilogy before he enters his mid-40s.
The James Bond casting making Aaron Taylor-Johnson the next 007 would also help ensure that audiences get a believable new actor in the role. Someone like Tom Holland is too young and popular to take the part. Aaron Taylor-Johnson represents someone whose presence carries enough weight and is old enough to have ascended to this position and can grow into the title. It also prevents Bond 26 from introducing an actor who is far too old to carry the franchise for years to come realistically and would need to be replaced shortly. Instead, Aaron Taylor-Johnson's James Bond casting strikes the perfect age range.
