BRITISH actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson is drinking his martinis shaken, not stirred, after he was officially offered the job of the new James Bond.
Insiders say the Kick-Ass star is expected to take on the role of 007, taking over from Daniel Craig, who played MI6’s most famous spy for 15 years.
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Here’s what Aaron Taylor-Johnson could look like as the next 007 amid news he’s officially been offered the role of James Bond
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Aaron rose to fame in the 2010 film Kick-Ass Credit: Alamy
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He was then cast as Quicksilver in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Credits: Rex Features
Eon Productions, which produces spy thrillers, starts filming this year.
A source said: “Bond is Aaron’s job, if he wants to take it. A formal offer is on the table and they are waiting for a response.
“As for Eon, Aaron will sign his contract in the coming days and they can start preparing for the big announcement.”
The next Bond film was delayed due to strikes in Hollywood last year.
But insiders have confirmed that the script is now being worked on, and production should take place at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire.
Aaron, 33, was in the running for the top spot alongside actors including Oscar winners Cillian Murphy, Idris Elba, Henry Cavill and James Norton.
Today bookmaker Coral has changed the odds on Aaron taking on the famous role — first played by Sean Connery in 1962’s Dr No — and made him the 2/1 favourite.
When asked last week if he would step into Bond’s shoes, Aaron said: “I think it’s charming and wonderful that people see me in that role. I take that as a great compliment.”
In 2022, The Sun revealed she was in the running for the job after a secret screen test for top Bond actress Barbara Broccoli at Pinewood Studios.
Aaron, who is from High Wycombe, Bucks, rose to fame starring in Kick-Ass and The Avengers.
James Bond actor Daniel Craig has revealed the ‘very funny’ joke made on him by Queen Elizabeth II.
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Aaron and Brad Pitt co-starred in 2022’s Bullet Train Credit: Rex Features
He began his acting career in 2000’s Apocalypse, opposite Richard Harris, and appeared in the 2008 teen film Angus, Thongs And Perfect Snogging, and 2022’s Bullet Train, opposite Brad Pitt.
Insiders said Aaron’s performance as a psychopath in the 2016 thriller Nocturnal Animals, for which he won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor, opened the door to the Bond role.
A source said: “Aaron may not be the most famous in his line of work, but he is an incredibly talented actor.
“His role in Nocturnal Animals showed his depth as an actor.
“He is the perfect person for the role of Bond and will carry on well where Daniel left off.”
Craig, 56, put down his Walther PPK pistol for the last time after 2021’s No Time To Die.
It ended with a shocking finale in which Bond was seemingly killed.
With 007 seemingly dead, it’s unclear where the next film will be placed in the timeline.
The latter film grossed more than £600 million at the global box office.
Daniel also starred in 2006’s Casino Royale, 2008’s Quantum Of Solace, 2012’s Skyfall, and 2015’s Spectre.
But he began to resent the role and came under fire for saying he would rather “slash my wrists” than play 007 again.
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Aaron’s relationship with his wife Sam has attracted attention because she is 23 years his seniorCredit: Mike Marsland / WireImage
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Nineteen-year-old Aaron with director Sam in 2009. Credit: Rex Features
Aaron’s personal life previously attracted more interest than his acting career.
He married director Sam Taylor-Wood, 57, in June 2012, four years after they met on the set of Nowhere Boy — which she directed and he starred in.
When they started dating, Aaron was 18 and Sam was 42.
Speaking about their relationship, Aaron said: “I think we work really well together, but that’s not why I fell in love with her.
“I really have nothing to hide and I’m confident in what we have.”
Aaron and Fifty Shades of Gray director Sam married at the Babington House private club in Somerset and have two daughters, Wylda, 13, and Romy, 11.
He is also stepfather to Sam’s two daughters, Angelica, 25, and Jessie, 15, from her marriage to art dealer Jay Jopling.
Aaron said of life as a parent: “I enjoy the normal things, the everyday things.
“I get my children ready in the morning, take them to school and to activities. It feeds my soul.
“I knew I would have a big family. I knew I would be a young father. I knew I would have many children.”
Sam has spoken about falling in love with Aaron on the set of Nowhere Boy, but insisted nothing happened until filming was over.
She said: “I managed to last until almost the end of the film.
“We weren’t even together then. Maybe the feelings were there, but they didn’t act on them.
“The thing is that we had quite a psychic connection while working together.
“I knew from the blink of an eye what kind of performance I was going to get.
“I felt that connection almost from the first day I met him.”
The couple, who live in London, are rarely seen together in public, but often share photos on social media.
Aaron celebrated Sam’s birthday last week with a black and white picture of them together.
He posted: “You are an extraordinary woman, there really is no one like you. I could not be more proud and excited about the year ahead.”
Sam directed Back to Black, the Amy Winehouse biopic, out April 12.
Aaron has a new Marvel movie, Kraven the Hunter, coming out later this year.
Bond boss Barbara previously confirmed she would cast a man as 007 despite calls for a woman to step in.
She said in 2020: “James Bond can be any color, but he is male. I believe we should create new characters for women.”
THE STARS HAVE NO TIME TO RISE
A LOT of actors were in the running to be the next 007.
Irish star Cillian Murphy (47) was tipped after winning the Oscars.
Oppenheimer’s colleague, Clay Bunker, backed him up and said, “Cillian is the most likable, but he has a dark side like Bond.”
Theo James, who stars in the new Netflix series The Gentlemen, was also in the running.
But the White Lotus actor, 39, said he was apprehensive about the role.
DC Superman Henry Cavill (40) has also been linked to Bond, having previously auditioned for the role of Daniel Craig.
Casino Royale director Martin Campbell said: “If Daniel hadn’t existed, Henry would have been a great Bond.”
Happy Valley’s James Norton, 38, was in the running to play the lead spy, but when asked about the possibility he said: “I’d love to play a Bond villain.”
Idris Elba (51) was voted best man for this role by loyal Bond fans.
But The Wire actor said his prospects had soured due to racist backlash to rumors he had landed the gig.
SIX ACTORS WHO PLAYED 007
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Sean Connery was the first Bond ever, even though he didn’t fit the vision of author Ian Fleming Credit: Getty
SEAN Connery was the first James Bond.
He made his debut in the 1962 film Dr No, starring in seven 007 films until 1983.
But he was not the choice of 007 creator Ian Fleming.
He thought the 6ft 2in Scot was not refined enough for the role.
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George Lazenby was only in one Bond film Credit: 20th Century Fox
AUSTRALIAN actor George Lazenby played Bond just once in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
He never signed on for the role and was reportedly convinced by his agent not to stay because the character would soon become stale.
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Roger Moore took over the role for the seventies and dropped out with A View to Murder Credits: Rex Features
ROGER Moore made his debut as 007 in Live And Let Die in 1973 and stayed on for seven films.
A TV actor, he was known as Simon Templar in The Saint and The Persuaders!.
His last performance was 1985’s A View To A Kill.
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Timothy Dalton only played Bond twice and wanted to give the character a darker edge Credit: 20th Century Fox
TIMOTHY Dalton played Bond only twice, once in 1987’s The Living Daylights and later in 1989’s License To Kill.
His portrayal was darker and more serious than his predecessors, and the actor wanted to be less womanizing.
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Pierce Brosnan made Bond quit smokingCredit: Alamy
PIERCE Brosnan made his debut as 007 in 1995’s GoldenEye and played the spy three more times.
He pushed Bond to quit smoking, saying, “Smoking causes cancer, so he doesn’t smoke.”
His last film was 2002’s Die Another Day.
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Daniel Craig is the latest Bond and has remained in the role for a decade and a half Credit: Alamy
DANIEL Craig revived the James Bond franchise with 2006’s Casino Royale.
Fans were initially not happy with his choice, so they started a petition against it.
But he became a much-loved 007, ending with 2021’s No Time To Die.
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