LONDON (AP) 鈥 Aaron Taylor-Johnson is the latest actor reportedly offered a license to kill and succeed Daniel Craig as the new James Bond.
The 鈥淜ick-Ass鈥 star is no stranger to action movies and at 33 is a good age to join the franchise, as producers likely want a 10 year commitment to the role.
Since Craig announced that he was hanging up his tuxedo after five outings as 007 鈥 the in 2021 鈥 there has been frenzied speculation over which actor will take the coveted role.
Bond producers have not commented on the Taylor-Johnson rumors.
Speculating about the next Bond is a frequent subject (sometimes even before the job is available), leading British actors to adopt various strategies and responses when the topic comes up.
One of the foremost names in the frame over the past few years has been Idris Elba, though producer Barbara Broccoli said in 2022 that the 鈥淟uther鈥 star had ruled himself out.
鈥淗e apparently has said he鈥檚 out,鈥 she told The Associated Press. 鈥淲e love Idris and he鈥檚 been a wonderful friend and we love him as an actor. But I think he feels like a, you know, 10- or 12-year commitment or 15-year commitment might be a bit too much for him.鈥
鈥淵ou know, it鈥檚 a rumor that鈥檚 stuck with me,鈥 Elba said in 2023. 鈥淚 think I鈥檓 the most famous 鈥楤ond鈥 actor that never actually played the part. So, what can I say? I鈥檒l take that.鈥
Elba has high profile fans including Matt Damon. 鈥淚 think he鈥檚 brilliant. I鈥檒l watch him in anything and he makes everything he鈥檚 in better and he would make that franchise better.鈥
鈥淚nception鈥 and 鈥淒unkirk鈥 star Tom Hardy was touted as the next Bond back in 2015, though he claimed to have 鈥渉eard nothing鈥 about press speculation.
鈥淚 think answering something like that means immediately you鈥檙e out of the running. So there goes my spot,鈥 he joked.
Luke Evans, who has starred in a wide variety of movies and TV series from 鈥淭he Hobbit鈥 to 鈥淏eauty and the Beast鈥 to 鈥淣ine Perfect Strangers,鈥 felt his dream of playing Bond has slipped away.
鈥淏y the time they cast it again, I鈥檒l be too old,鈥 the 44-year-old actor told The Associated Press in 2022.
Richard Madden brushed off rumors about his involvement in Bond at a press conference for 鈥淩ocket Man鈥 in Cannes back in 2019.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very flattering to be involved in that conversation at all. But it鈥檚 all just talk and I鈥檓 sure next week you鈥檒l be someone different,鈥 he laughed.
Other names connected with the role in recent years include Reg茅-Jean Page, who shot to fame in 鈥淏ridgerton鈥 as the Duke of Hastings, Theo James, who earned an Emmy nomination for his role in 鈥淭he White Lotus,鈥 and Henry Golding, star of 鈥淐razy Rich Asians.鈥
Every time Golding has appeared on a red carpet wearing a tuxedo, rumors swirl about him being the next 007, but he remains tight-lipped.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a cultural icon. That鈥檚 all I can say,鈥 he smiled.
