Aaron Taylor-Johnson Is the Perfect James Bond for These Three Reasons

Since Daniel Craig hung up his tuxedo for good in 2022, speculation has been rife about who will be the next James Bond.

While several A-listers have been speculated to reprise the role, the new 007 may have finally been named. Earlier this week, reports circled that Bullet Train star Aaron Taylor-Johnson had been “formally offered” the part.

Although the British actor has yet to confirm the rumors, James Bond experts told Newsweek why they think he’s the perfect fit to play the iconic spy.

Three Reasons Why Aaron Taylor-Johnson Will Make the Perfect James Bond

His Age

At 33 years old, Taylor-Johnson is the right age to be the new James Bond, at least according to producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.

The duo shut down rumors that Luther star Idris Elba would be taking over the role in 2022, with Wilson telling Deadline they were searching for an actor in his thirties.

“Bond’s already a veteran,” he said. “He’s had some experience. He isn’t some kid out of high school that you can bring in and start off. That’s why it works for a 30-something.”

According to film and TV critic Tim Stevens, the actor’s age needs to reflect a “weariness that suggests years of military service and tragedy,” meaning some fans may balk at the idea of a younger star like Taylor-Johnson helming the franchise.

“All that said, Taylor-Johnson wouldn’t be the youngest 007,” Stevens told Newsweek. “George Lazenby holds that record at 29.

“Also, the original Bond, Sean Connery, was a year younger than Taylor-Johnson when he started in Dr. No.”

From a business standpoint, Stevens believes Taylor-Johnson’s age provides both the actor and the filmmakers with longevity.

“If he’s Bond for 12 years, he’ll still only be as old as Roger Moore was in his first go-round as 007,” he said.

He’s Good Looking

Although he’s yet to lead a major franchise, Taylor-Johnson has already proven he can melt hearts.

His break-out role was playing the Stiff Dylans frontman Robbie Jennings in the Brit teen rom-com Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging. Playing the leading lady’s love interest, Taylor-Johnson melted the hearts of teen girls across the U.K.

However, his recent Rolling Stone cover may have broadened his appeal, with Taylor-Johnson gaining over 31,000 Instagram followers in the first three days after it went live.

Pop culture historian Roy Schwartz believes Taylor-Johnson’s appearance makes him a “promising” candidate for the role.

“He’s got the right look to play Bond,” Schwartz told Newsweek. “He’s pretty but rugged, and if you’ve seen Bullet Train, you know he looks good in a suit.”

Andrew Lycett, author of Ian Fleming: The Man Who Created James Bond, said there is no specific look for Bond, but he needs to master certain traits the writer envisioned.

“A good Bond is a man who gives a decent impression of the character created by Ian Fleming in the 1950s,” he told Newsweek.

“A tough, amoral loner of somewhat indeterminate class, though educated at Eton and Fettes. Someone who lives up—or down—to the bland name Fleming carefully chose for him.”

Stevens agrees it’s more about swagger than hair or eye color, believing the new star needs to blend “charisma, brutality, and humor.”

“Too much of any one element can upend the effort,” he said. “That’s why Roger Moore’s later films are largely dismissed as too silly.

“Timothy Dalton—and sometimes Daniel Craig—were hit with being too dour, and Pierce Brosnan was frequently considered too slick. However, at their best, each provided all three elements in the correct ratio to deliver.”

He Can Pack on Muscle

Taylor-Johnson has become somewhat of an action star in recent years.

The actor has appeared in Bullet Train (2022), The King’s Man (2021), Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi-action-thriller Tenet (2020) and Kick-Ass 2 (2013), while his next movie, the action-comedy The Fall Guy, comes out in May.

It goes without saying that any actor playing Bond should look as though he can handle the stunts—whether that’s jumping off buildings, a daring car chase, or driving a speedboat through crocodile-infested waters—even if he can’t actually do it.

“Taylor-Johnson’s in great shape, obviously, but I don’t think Bond has to look like a Marvel superhero,” Schwartz said.

“You could argue Bond’s a superhero by any other name, but he’s more real, more ‘achievable.’ That’s part of his allure.”

What Would Ian Fleming Think of Aaron Taylor-Johnson Playing James Bond?

According to Lycett, Fleming would be amazed by all the “hoo-ha” associated with the Bond franchise and always wanted the books to be turned into movies.

“He allowed the producers to get on with making the films they wanted,” he said.

Taylor-Johnson has been Lycett’s “top choice” to play the new 007 for a while. However, until there’s confirmation from either Wilson, Broccoli or the actor himself, the role could still go to another performer.

“As I understand it, there are several hoops he still has to go through,” Lycett said.

When Sean Connery was cast as Bond in the early 60s, Fleming was unhappy with the choice, believing the Scottish actor was too attractive and charismatic to play the secret agent.

“When I wrote the first one, in 1953, I wanted Bond to be an extremely dull, uninteresting man to whom things happened…” he told The New Yorker shortly before his death in 1964.

However, he was so impressed with Connery’s portrayal that he worked aspects of his performance into the later James Bond novels.

“Given that, it seems likely the author would be persuaded to love or hate an actor’s interpretation [of Bond],” Stevens said, adding that every Bond star has “met with at least some skepticism from a vocal number of people.”

Schwartz believes Fleming would be fine with the character’s transformation over the last 60 years. Bond has been portrayed by seven different actors since 1962, with each star bringing something different to the role.

“I know Fleming was particular about how Bond’s portrayed, but I don’t think he’d want him to stay monolithic,” Schwartz explained.

“I think Taylor-Johnson would be a good torchbearer while also a modern take, which Fleming would approve of.”