The name’s Johnson… Taylor-Johnson: British actor Aaron ‘has been formally offered the chance to play James Bond and will sign contracts this WEEK’

Aaron Taylor-Johnson ‘has been formally offered the opportunity to play James Bond‘, putting an end to months of speculation regarding Daniel Craig‘s successor. 

The actor, 33, is yet to officially accept the role, but should he do so he will become only the seventh actor to play the iconic British secret agent since the franchise launched in 1962.

A recent poll suggested Idris Elba was still the public’s number one choice for the role, despite being 51 – old for a Bond candidate – and already ruling himself out of the running in order to focus on his crime drama, Luther. 

But Aaron, who is known for his roles in Nocturnal Animals, Kick-Ass, Nowhere Boy and Avengers: Age of Ultron, has landed the coveted part, reports The Sun.  

A source said: ‘Bond is Aaron’s job, should he wish to accept it. The formal offer is on the table and they are waiting to hear back.

‘As far as Eon is concerned, Aaron is going to sign his contract in the coming days and they can start preparing for the big announcement.’ 

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Aaron for comment. 

Responding to the rumours that he could step into Bond’s shoes last week, 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.’

He began acting as a child and has seen his career go from strength to strength, with three huge film appearance this year alone.

Aaron will be starring as a famous action star who goes missing in The Fall Guy, opposite Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt.

And he will also be appearing in the hotly anticipated remake of 1922 gothic horror Nosferatu, directed by Robert Eggers and featuring a star-studded cast, including Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp and Willem Dafoe.

But Aaron’s biggest upcoming role will see him rejoin the superhero universe, as he will be playing the titular role in Kraven the Hunter, the fifth film in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe.

He also has been nominated for two BAFTAs and previously won Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Globes for Nocturnal Animals.

The Bullet Train star’s name has been in the running for Bond for a while now, alongside fellow A-list contenders like Tom Hardy, Henry Cavill and recent Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy.

In October last year, the Mail exclusively revealed that Aaron was the ‘one to beat’ to take the iconic role, while Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan was looking likely to helm the next film in the franchise.

The insider said: ‘Aaron Taylor-Johnson is currently the hot favorite to step into the iconic role, he’s the first choice for Barbara Broccoli – he is the one to beat.’

They added of Christopher: ‘He is extremely interested in doing something very different with the franchise. If he can get his way with producers, then he is all for it.’

It was previously reported that the Oscar-winning director wanted to direct the next Bond film as a period piece set in the same as the original source material – something that director Quentin Tarantino had previously wanted to do with Casino Royale, but was turned down.

However, the insider added: ‘Whether Nolan coming on board will affect the casting of Aaron Taylor-Johnson is currently a grey area – as he’s very particular with who he works with.’

Christopher is known for consistently using similar casts in his films, working with fellow rumoured Bond stars, Tom and Cillian, on multiple films, including Inception, Dunkirk and The Dark Knight Rises.

Christopher worked with Aaron on 2020 film Tenet, in which the actor played military commander Ives. 

In March 2023, Aaron was said to have completed a screen test at Pinewood Studios with Bond boss Barbara and impressed her.

According to the Mail On Sunday, Barbara has made it clear she wanted the next actor to portray the character for 15 years.

Outside of acting, Aaron’s personal life has generated much public interest, due to the large age gap between him and his wife.

He tied the knot with Sam Taylor-Johnson, 57, in June 2012, and they share daughters Wylda Rae, 13, and Romy Hero, 11.

Fifty Shades of Grey director Sam also has two older daughters – Angelica, 26, and Jessie, 17, with her ex-husband Jay Jopling.

Their relationship has caused controversy, as the couple met while filming Nowhere Boy in 2009, which Sam directed, when Aaron was 18 and she was 42, going on to welcome their first daughter Wylda the following year.

Sam previously spoke about falling for Aaron on the set, but insisted nothing happened until the movie wrapped.

She said: ‘I managed to hold off really until almost the end of the film. We weren’t even together then. Maybe feelings were there but un-acted upon.

‘The thing is, we had quite a psychic link when working together. I knew from a flicker of an eyelash what kind of performance I was going to get. I felt that link almost from day one of meeting him.’

The news about Aaron’s offer to play the world’s most famous spy comes after fans cast their votes to who they wanted in the role.

A study of 2,000 Brits by Lottoland, saw Idris come out on top, with some unconventional choices thrown into the mix, like Emilia Clarke, James Norton, Emily Blunt and Helen Mirren. 

Bond is famed for turning those who play 007 into global superstars and the franchise 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 Idris was the top choice, fans may end up disappointed after the actor has ruled himself out several times and has even allegedly put forward a list of proposed names to play 007 instead.

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

And in February 2023, he insisted: ‘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.’

Last summer, Idris admitted that he used to be ‘super complimented’ by the idea of playing Bond, saying it was the ‘pinnacle’.

But he told Variety that he became turned off, when ‘those that weren’t happy about the idea made the whole thing disgusting and off-putting, because it became about race. It became about nonsense and I got the brunt of it.’

Meanwhile, Michael Fassbender also ruled himself out, saying he thought a younger star should take on the role.

When asked by GQ magazine if he would be up for the part, the actor, 46, said: ‘To be honest, no.’

Riding high off his Oscar success, Cillian, 47, has been another popular choice for fans, but also doesn’t seem keen.

He told GQ: ‘It’s incredibly flattering to be in that conversation. I think it should be a woman [next].’

This week, another rumoured star, Theo James, called the prospect of taking on the huge role ‘terrifying’ and insisted there were ‘better people for the job’.

He told the Guardian: ‘Everyone’s interested in [me playing 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’.

He said playing the character was like ‘opening Pandora’s box’, as the level of fame would cause the star playing Bond and their family to have to ‘live a very different life’.

While Tom Hardy has kept quiet about the persistent Bond rumours, telling The Daily Beast: ‘If I mention it, it’s gone. You know, there’s a saying amongst us in the fraternity of acting, and in the fellowship of my peer group, that if you talk about it you’re automatically out of the race. So I can’t possibly comment on that one.’

One actor ready to take up the mantle is Henry Cavill, who already auditioned for Bond in his twenties, but missed out allegedly due to being too young.

Speaking about what he would do if given another chance, he said: ‘If Barbara and Mike [co-producer Michael G Wilson] were interested in that, I would absolutely jump at the opportunity. 

‘At this stage, it’s all up in the air. We’ll see what happens. But yes, I would love to play Bond, it would be very, very exciting.’

Speaking to Jimmy Fallon about the rumours he would get the role, Regé-Jean Page admitted: ‘I think the internet thinks a lot of things, that’s one of the more pleasant ones, so I’m pleased as far as that goes.

‘But there might be an element of cultural translation here. If you’re a Brit and you do something of any kind of renown, that people regard well, then people start saying the ‘B’ word. It’s like a merit badge. You get a ‘B’ word merit badge.’

James Bond producer Barbara previously admitted it will take a long time to choose Craig’s 007 replacement.

The filmmaker insisted it’s not as easy as picking an actor to take on the iconic role of the suave spy.

Speaking to Variety, Barbara said: ‘It’s a big decision. It’s not just casting a role. It’s about a whole rethink about where we’re going.’