Battling it out for Bond? 007 rivals Aaron-Taylor Johnson and Theo James film dramatic scenes for new movie Fuze in Kent – after both were tipped to replace Daniel Craig in iconic role

James Bond candidates Aaron-Taylor Johnson and Theo James joined forces to film dramatic action scenes for their new movie Fuze at a quarry in Kent on Sunday. 

Both actors have been tipped to take on the iconic 007 role and taking over from Daniel Craig with The Sun even reporting Aaron, 34, had been ‘formally offered the job’.

On set Theo, 39, had his hand tied behind his back in the scenes while his character was taken hostage in the back of a truck.

Covered in dust and dirt he was seemingly rescued by Aaron’s soldier who was dressed in camouflage and carried a gun.

One sequence saw bullets being fired before a stunt team engineered one vehicle to flip over onto it’s roof. 

The movie also stars fellow Gugu Mbatha-Raw as well as Aussie actor Sam Worthington. 

The offical synopsis reads: ‘After an undetonated bomb from World War II is uncovered at a London construction site, the chaos of the subsequent evacuation and bomb disarming provides excellent cover to conduct a nearby bank heist’. 

Despite the rumours, insiders have denied reports that Aaron has been cast as the new Bond in the 007 movies, leaving speculation to swirl.

Responding to the rumours he could step into Bond’s shoes earlier this year, Aaron played coy, telling Numero: ‘I find it charming and wonderful that people see me in that role. I take it as a great compliment.’

Meanwhile Theo, who is of Greek decent, is one of at least twenty established names to be linked with the James Bond role.

Addressing the rumours, he told The Guardian: ‘Everyone’s interested in [Bond] because it’s a big part of British cultural identity, but that probably wouldn’t be me.

‘I do think there are better people for that job. And, honestly, it would be terrifying: if you do that, there’s no going back. You’re opening Pandora’s box there.  

‘You have got to be willing to live a very different life and have a different life for your family. And that would be pretty tricky. Plus, my mates would take the p*ss out of me. Because they always say, “Bondopoulos – the Greek Bond.”‘ 

James also features in 18th place in a recent poll commissioned by Lottoland carried out among 2,000 British Bond fans 

Topping the list is Luther star Idris Elba, while Tom Hardy, Henry Cavill and the Oscar-winning man with the golden gong, Cillian Murphy, also featured on the 20-strong list. 

The long-running Bond franchise is famous for turning those who play the secret agent into global superstars.

And it isn’t shy of casting left-field stars to take on the role; the late Sean Connery, one of the most recognisable Bonds, had only featured in a series of TV films when he accepted the role of the titular British spy in 1962’s Dr. No, catapulting him to international fame.

But while Elba was the top choice, fans may end up disappointed after the actor ruled himself out of playing the role last year so he could focus on his deal with Netflix, where he is starring in Luther: The Fallen Sun.

The actor brought up the persistent discussions about him taking over as Ian Fleming’s famed British spy in February 2023.

When asked about the Luther film at the World Government Summit in Dubai, he said: ‘It’s very dark. 

‘We’ve been working on the television show for about 10 years and so the natural ambition is to take it to the big screen, and so we’re here with the first movie.

‘You know, a lot of people talk about another character that begins with J and ends with B, but I’m not going to be that guy.

‘I’m going to be John Luther. That’s who I am.’

Back in August 2022, it was reported that Elba had walked away from ‘years of talks’ with movie bosses to take over the famous role.

He had been the bookies’ favourite to replace Daniel Craig as the super spy, but is keen to pursue other roles – and has even put forward a list of proposed names to producer Barbara Broccoli of actors to play 007.