A former James Bond actor gives his opinion on the rumored casting of Aaron Taylor-Johnson as 007 for the upcoming Bond 26. The race to replace Daniel Craig as cinema’s most iconic secret agent is still officially open, following Craig’s departure post-No Time to Die. But rumors are swirling that, indeed, the prize has already been handed out to Tenet and Bullet Train star Taylor-Johnson.
Only Barbara Broccoli can answer questions about Bond 26 casting, but if the new 007 is Taylor-Johnson, former James Bond actor George Lazenby is on-board with the decision. Speaking to TMZ, the On Her Majesty’s Secret Service actor gave his thumbs-up to Taylor-Johnson, but cautioned that the process likely isn’t over, as he himself had to go through multiple auditions before landing the role. The gossip site relays Lazenby’s opinion that Taylor-Johnson can handle the stunts in Bond 26, and passes on Lazenby’s advice for the prospective new 007 to reinvent the role as he himself did.
Why Taylor-Johnson Is The Safe Bet To Be James Bond
Taylor-Johnson has steadily made his way up the list of potential Bond actors in recent months, as stars like Idris Elba, Tom Hardy and Henry Cavill have lost buzz. Younger actors like James Norton and Regé-Jean Page have poked their heads into the race from time-to-time, but it’s impossible to say if they were ever really contenders. Truly unorthodox ideas, like having a female James Bond, have largely been shot down, with Bond producer Broccoli herself going so far as to declare that Bond will never be a woman.
The latest report on Taylor-Johnson’s Bond prospects claims that the role is his if he wants it, and that an announcement could be coming soon. The Bullet Train star has plenty of boosters among Bond watchers, and in that respect would be a safe bet to take over from the hugely successful Craig. Taylor-Johnson indeed has a gritty vibe that is similar to Craig’s, allowing the Bond franchise to continue on seamlessly in the same vein as the Craig-era films.
The argument could be made that Taylor-Johnson is indeed too much of a safe bet for Bond 26, when the opportunity is there for a big shift like changing the character’s race or gender. Bond’s caretakers have, unfortunately, always been a bit risk-averse, preferring to evolve the franchise slowly rather than take radical steps. Taylor-Johnson might indeed make a good Bond, as Lazenby thinks, but he’s also a safe choice, which might be all Broccoli and company are looking for.
