Is Aaron Taylor-Johnson The Next James Bond? Everything We Know So Far

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As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve been keeping an eye on the buzz in Hollywood lately. The James Bond film property has recently shifted control from the Broccoli family to Amazon MGM Studios, sparking speculation about who will replace Daniel Craig as 007. His grittier take on Bond was appreciated by fans and viewers alike, but his journey as the iconic spy hasn’t been without its ups and downs. Back in 2015, during the promotions for “Spectre,” Craig mentioned to Time Out (via Time) that he’d rather slit his wrists than do another Bond film. Fast forward a few years, and despite those words, he did indeed return for one more installment, “No Time to Die” in 2021. Now, it appears that both Craig and the franchise creators are in agreement about him hanging up his tuxedo and martini glass.

2022 saw rumors circulating that Aaron Taylor-Johnson, famous for his roles in “Kick-Ass” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron”, impressed Barbara Broccoli during an audition for the Bond franchise. Although there hasn’t been official confirmation about him being cast as Bond since then, his potential casting has garnered significant fan support, persisting even through changes in creative control over the franchise. It remains a possibility that he could become the next James Bond.

A windfall for Amazon MGM Studios

As a diehard Bond fan, I can’t help but reflect on the pivotal role Albert “Cubby” Broccoli played in shaping my beloved James Bond universe. He was the visionary producer who brought the first Bond film, “Dr. No,” to life back in 1962, staying faithful to Ian Fleming’s original spy novels as he produced a string of subsequent Bond movies.

Fast forward to the 1990s, and the torch was passed to his daughter Barbara Broccoli and her half-brother Michael G. Wilson. They continued the legacy, casting Pierce Brosnan as our iconic agent 007, keeping the magic alive for generations of Bond enthusiasts like myself.

At the 2025 Academy Awards, the Broccoli family received recognition, with a speech by Halle Berry and an elaborate tribute to the James Bond legacy. However, it is claimed that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos took numerous steps to oust Broccoli from the Bond franchise due to her persistent criticisms of his executives. Eventually, reports suggest Bezos paid Broccoli a staggering $1 billion to relinquish full creative control of the series to Amazon MGM Studios. Despite her family’s fifty-year involvement in the franchise, she agreed, marking a significant change. Since Daniel Craig’s final film, “No Time to Die,” was released in 2021, the Bond property has been inactive. Now that the dispute between Amazon and the Broccolis has been resolved, it is expected that Amazon will swiftly work towards rejuvenating the renowned secret agent character.

Is Aaron Taylor-Johnson the next James Bond?

Previously, Pierce Brosnan, the actor who portrayed James Bond prior to Daniel Craig, chose Aaron Taylor-Johnson (ATJ) for his production titled “The Greatest.” In an interview with Yahoo Entertainment, Brosnan expressed that if ATJ aspired for the role of James Bond, desired it and eventually landed it, he would undoubtedly excel. It’s not just Brosnan who believes ATJ could be a perfect fit; numerous fans have expressed enthusiasm over this potential casting choice.

It seems quite uncertain that ATJ will be puffing on cigars in Monaco any time soon, as both confirmations are scarce and the actor appears to be skillfully evading queries about it during interviews for other ventures. One point, however, remains undeniable: The longest break between James Bond movie releases was the six-year span from “Spectre” (2015) to “No Time to Die” (2021). To prevent surpassing that record, Amazon MGM should consider casting the next 007 agent more expeditiously.

Is anyone else being considered to play 007?

Discussions about who might play James Bond next have centered on Aaron Taylor-Johnson, but many other actors have been mentioned by fans and reportedly discussed with EON Productions over the years. Although Barbara Broccoli, who was in charge of creative decisions at one time, didn’t rule out the idea of a non-white actor taking up the role, she stated in 2018 that “Bond is male” and it’s likely that he’ll remain so. Given this background, it seems unlikely that Amazon MGM Studios would break tradition by casting a woman as James Bond for the next installment of the long-running series.

Actors who have been widely discussed and highlighted in Hollywood circles and online include Idris Elba, Cillian Murphy, Henry Cavill, Jamie Campbell Bower, as well as newer names such as Barry Keoghan and Paul Mescal. These newcomers are gaining attention because of their recent success and popularity. Some people are open to the idea of a less traditional 007 than in previous versions. Bookmakers have high odds for Taylor-Johnson, along with other actors like Rege-Jean Page and Jack Lowden. However, sometimes bets can be unexpected, as the odds for relatively unknown actor Mike Dickman (“Barbie”) have seen a significant increase recently.

Everything else there is to know about the new Bond film

For James Bond enthusiasts, it’s unfortunate that Amazon MGM Studios can’t make many creative choices about the franchise until a new lead actor is selected. As a result, updates regarding the movie have slowed down. However, it’s been announced that David Heyman and Amy Pascal will be taking over as the main custodians of the series. They’ve hinted at Academy Award-winning director Alfonso Cuarón potentially directing a new, innovative approach to the character in the 26th Bond film.

It seems quite possible that Amazon intends to grow the James Bond franchise into a cinematic universe, potentially including TV series for Prime Video. This move could be due to Amazon’s past efforts, albeit unsuccessful, to develop the Russo brothers’ “Citadel” as a main intellectual property. However, Amazon MGM has confirmed that the next Bond film will be released in theaters and they are dedicated to providing audiences with a satisfying theatrical experience.

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2025-04-27 19:30