Reports circling in the UK say producers of the famous spy-thriller film series James Bond, known his codename 007, have offered Jewish-British actor and Golden Globe winner Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 33, to portray the famous character in his next film.
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According to a report published by UK-based entertainment news outlet The Sun, Eon Studios — who stand behind the film series — sent an official offer to Taylor-Johnson who's expected to respond in the coming days.
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Aaron Taylor-Johnson
(Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for BFI)
Their hope, according to the report, is to shoot the new film, the 26th in the series spanning over six decades, later this year. "Bond is Aaron’s job, should he wish to accept it," a source close to the production told The Sun. "As far as Eon is concerned, Aaron is going to sign his contract in the coming days and they can start preparing for the big announcement."
Bond's previous actor Daniel Craig retired from the role after the last film in the series, No Time to Die, in 2021, and preparations for the next film's shooting were delayed due to the actors' strike in Hollywood.
According to the report, other candidates considered for the role over the years included Oscar winner Cillian Murphy, British black actor Idris Elba, James Norton, and Henry Cavill.
Taylor-Johnson's film career has been ongoing for 20 years, and he's mainly known to audiences for his role as Quicksilver in Marvel movies. He won a Golden Globe in 2017 for his role in the drama Nocturnal Animals.
In an interview with the British Guardian in the past, Taylor-Johnson said he was glad someone said he looks like a Hasidic Jew. "That was nice because I have really curly hair and also I’m Jewish." If chosen for the role, he would be the first Jewish Bond - after six actors who portrayed the famous spy were of Jewish descent.