Who is Aaron Taylor-Johnson? The roles that prove he could be James Bond

Could Aaron Taylor-Johnson be the next James Bond?

As far as movie roles go, there are few that are as shrouded in mystery, intrigue and rumour as the decision behind who’ll step into the sleek tux of 007.

In March 2024, The Sun claimed the actor had formally been offered the role of James Bond in Bond 26, and this wasn’t the first time he’d been linked with playing 007.

In fact, in January 2023 the internet was abuzz with chatter that suggested the Bullet Train star was the latest frontrunner in the ongoing race for 007, pitting him against former Man of Steel Henry Cavill as the bookies’ favourite for inheriting the role from Daniel Craig who hung up his PPK with 2021’s climactic No Time To Die.

Read more: 16 actors who could be the next James Bond

Later while promoting his upcoming Spider-Man spin-off Kraven The Hunter, the 33-year-old actor inadvertently poured fuel on the fire when he refused to confirm or deny he would be the next 007.

“It’s not really for me to say anything,” he told Esquire. “I’ve spent two years making Kraven. So all that hard work we put into trying to get that to where it is—that’s where I’m at right now.

“I just focus on the things I can have in my hands right now. What’s in front of me right now.”

If you’re one of the few who are still unsure as to who this star with the double-barrelled surname is that very well may soon become the world’s greatest secret agent, fear not — we have you covered.

Just like gadget master Q, we’ve appeared from left field with some key tools to help bring you up to speed on Taylor-Johnson and his key performances that have set this star out as a suitable candidate for taking Bond into his next action-packed chapter.

Nowhere Boy (2009)

Despite starring in a number of movies before this one – you may have spotted Taylor-Johnson in 2006’s The Illusionist and 2008’s Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging – it was 2009’s Nowhere Boy that proved to be the key turning point in his early career, both professionally and personally.

As far as the former is concerned, it saw him step into the musical mind of a teenage John Lennon, chronicling his early relationships, musical endeavours and the key moments that set him on the path to becoming a Beatle.

As for the latter, the film introduced him to its director, Sam Taylor-Wood (now Taylor-Johnson), to whom he’s been happily married for the past 11 years.

Meanwhile, the rave reviews received for his take on Lennon helped set him up as a one to watch, proving that he had the dedication, depth and acting chops needed to help audiences lose themselves in a role, a quality that’s surely necessary for any 007 contender.

How to watch: Nowhere Boy is streaming on Disney+

Kick-Ass (2010)

Punching, kicking and sweating its way onto cinema screens back in 2008, director Matthew Vaughn’s adaptation of Marc Millar and John Romita Jr’s bloody comic series Kick-Ass likely served as many people’s first introduction to Taylor-Johnson.

In it, he plays a dweeby teenager who takes it upon himself to become a real-life superhero. After losing his ability to feel pain following injuries suffered during an early outing, the eponymous Kick-Ass decides to go the whole hog and take down a major crime lord with the help of the Dark Knight-esque Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage) and his foul-mouthed, stab-happy daughter Hit Girl (Chloë Grace Moretz).

Watch: Aaron Taylor-Johnson meets with James Bond producers to discuss the role

Read more: Moretz is 'still game' for Kick-Ass 3

Despite sharing the screen with Cage going full 1960s Batman Adam West, and being surrounded by action-packed musical numbers, Taylor-Johnson manages to hold his own while displaying a solid ability to handle action scenes - a skill that’d no doubt be handy on a Bond mission.

How to watch: Kick-Ass is available on VOD

MCU: Pietro Maximoff (2014-2015)

There’s so much going on in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that you’d be forgiven for temporarily forgetting that Taylor-Johnson was actually part of it. First appearing in 2014’s costumed thriller Captain America: The Winter Soldier, he played Pietro Maximoff, on-screen sister to Wanda AKA the Scarlet Witch and an incarnation of super-speedy X-Man, Quicksilver.

He went on to portray the character again in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron and ultimately snuff it during the battle for Sokovia, causing a plot beat that heavily influenced Wanda’s future, particularly in the 2021 series WandaVision.

Speaking of which, it was in this show where Pietro had a renaissance of sorts when Dahmer’s Evan Peters reprised his take on the same character from 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past, just to confuse matters even more.

Combined with his Kick Ass action credentials, it’s a wonder comic book movies haven’t used Taylor-Johnson more (actually, he is due to star in Sony's Spider-Man spin-off Kraven The Hunter later this year) but if these Bond rumours turn out to be true, his free spandex time may soon be in short supply.

How to watch: Captain America: The Winter Soldier & Avengers: Age of Ultron are streaming on Disney+

Tenet (2020)

There’s plenty we didn’t understand about Christopher Nolan’s time-flipping, mind-bender Tenet but one thing we’re pretty sure of is that it contained an appearance by Taylor-Johnson.

Put into the context of his wider film career so far and coupled with his spots in 2014’s Godzilla and 2016 drama Nocturnal Animals, his portrayal of military man Ives in this film arguably marks a step closer to more mature, adult-orientated roles — especially following early outings that arguably could be considered light teen-fodder.

Read more: Christopher Nolan pushing the boundaries with Tenet

Here, Taylor-Johnson’s on hand to help John David Washington’s protagonist and his Robert Pattinson-shaped handler pull off a time-heist known as a ‘Pincer Movement’ that’s far too brain-meltingly complex to properly explain. While the whole thing’s entertaining to watch, it’s hard not to feel that he was a tad underused — something he surely wouldn’t have to worry about if he becomes MI6’s latest secret agent.

How to watch: Tenet is available on VOD.

Bullet Train (2022)

With Bullet Train, Taylor-Johnson once again leans into the action starring alongside Brad Pitt in a mile-a-minute punch-a-thon set on a speeding locomotive. Pitt stars as an anxiety-ridden carrier who must fight his way through a number of onboard assassins in order to retrieve a briefcase full of money.

Taylor-Johnson plays one of those assassins and his time in the movie is responsible for delivering one of its most impressive and quippy scraps.

How to watch: Bullet Train is streaming on NOW with a Sky Cinema Membership

The Fall Guy (2024)

Taylor-Johnson reunites with Bullet Train director David Leitch in 2024’s The Fall Guy. In it he plays Tom Ryder, a Hollywood A-lister at the top of his game, who goes missing while shooting his latest movie. Ryan Gosling plays his stunt double Colt Seavers, while Oscar-nominee Stephanie Hsu plays Ryder's PA.

It’s a supporting role, but one that speaks volumes about the actor’s screen presence: if Ryan Gosling is your stunt double, then the real deal requires an actor dripping with rizz and star power.

This brings us nicely up to date on his career thus far, leaving him in a position where he’s clearly adept and the owner of an enviable IMDb resume albeit with a distinct feeling that he hasn’t quite found a role worthy of his full talents just yet.

As a young British male that looks suave in a suit, Bond could change all that for Taylor-Johnson. However, only time will tell if 007 is indeed in his future.

The Fall Guy is in cinemas on 2 May.