Fresh off of a standout performance in the 2022 thriller Bullet Train, Aaron Taylor-Johnson has proven he can take on a few diverse roles as an actor, but could he take the reins as the next James Bond? Recent fan art gave fans a look at what the iconic spy would look like were he to be played by the English actor.With Daniel Craig no longer playing James Bond, the search for a new 007 is underway. Fan art depicts Taylor-Johnson as Craig's possible successor by showing him wearing classic Bond attire while holding a gun in a fashion that would make him look like James Bond.Rahal Arts shared the fan art of Taylor-Johnson posing as a possible Bond replacement with the caption, "would you like Aaron Taylor-Johnson to be the next James Bond? #jamesbond #AaronTaylorJohnson #jamesbond007." In the picture, Taylor-Johnson is wearing a tuxedo, although the top button and bow tie are unbuttoned, making him look more relaxed while sitting on a stool and holding a handgun. This fan art was made shortly after it had been reported that Taylor-Johnson was in the lead to play James Bond, though it remains to be seen if that will be the case down the line.
Taylor-Johnson has been involved in several movie genres, including superhero films like Kickass and Avengers: Age of Ultron, psychological thrillers like Tenet and Nocturnal Animals, biopics like Nowhere Boy, where he played John Lennon, and action movies like Bullet Train. He's even been in disaster movies like the Godzilla reboot. Taking on the role of James Bond would be a new genre for him, but it wouldn't stray far from what he's already done. Because he's been involved in big blockbuster franchises, taking on James Bond wouldn't be a stretch.
Then again, it's tradition for the James Bond franchise to hire a mostly unknown actor whenever they find a replacement. Both Craig and Pierce Brosnan were relatively unknown quantities before they took on the role of Bond. Of course, becoming Bond turned them into A-List celebrities in no time, but the point remains the same. They became big-time actors after pulling off iconic portrayals of Bond. James Bond is one of the few franchises that can afford to have little-known actors play the lead because of its undying popularity.
Of course, since it's been confirmed that Craig will not return, the candidates that have been thrown out there as possible Bond replacements have all been well-established names like Idris Elba, Michael Fassbender, and Henry Cavill. Taylor-Johnson has starred in enough movies to have that same label as an established name. Perhaps this time, the franchise will look at someone who already has proven to lead a blockbuster film. Whether that's Taylor-Johnson or not, the James Bond franchise has proven it can stay afloat no matter who is playing the super spy.
Source: Rahal Arts/Twitter