After five films, Daniel Craig’s run as the iconic James Bond ended in 2021’s No Time to Die, sparking debate among fans and critics alike about who will be the next actor to take on this highly coveted role. Though these discussions have mostly been rumor and speculation, they have frequently featured various British actors such as Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, and Henry Cavill.
However, recent rumors suggested that Avengers: Age of Ultron actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson was in late-stage talks to take on the role. Interestingly, elements of the rumors were confirmed in a recent report by The Direct. Bond producer Barbara Broccoli and Taylor-Johnson, according to the report, have been in talks about the role.
According to the report, Taylor-meeting Johnson’s with Broccoli went very well, according to their sources. However, little else is known right now except that Taylor-Johnson has yet to be cast, as others may be in the running.Taylor-Johnson rose to prominence as the titular hero in 2010’s Kick-Ass, and he has since continued to deliver standout performances. Though he is best known for his role as Quicksilver in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, he also appeared in The Kingsman and Bullet Train in 2021 and 2022, respectively. In 2023’s Kraven the Hunter, he will play one of Spider-most Man’s dangerous antagonists.
Concerning the Bond franchise’s future, Broccoli previously revealed some details about the character’s next incarnation. For starters, they are not interested in casting a younger Bond and are specifically looking for a British actor under the age of 40. Furthermore, as is customary, whoever takes on the role, like his Bond predecessors, will commit to it for 10-12 years. However, according to Broccoli the focus of Bond 26 is to establish a “reinvention of Bond,”. This strategy would ultimately play a significant role in determining which actor would be cast in the role.
Audiences can expect Bond 26 to arrive in theaters in 2025 at the earliest, as the Bond producers previously stated that Bond 26 will begin production around 2024.