He’s been the hot favourite to take over as James Bond for a while now, but has Aaron Taylor-Johnson just dropped the biggest hint yet?
The Hollywood star, 34, has been backed by the bookies to star as 007 after Daniel Craig, 57, bowed out in 2021’s No Time to Die.
Other names to have floated around include Idris Elba, Theo James, Jack Lowden, and Stephen Graham, with James actually the new frontrunner following his latest underwear campaign.
However, Godzilla star Taylor-Johnson is giving him a run for his money with what fans are convinced is confirmation of his signing.
Taylor-Johnson has inked a deal with Omega, the watch brand that has long been providing accessories for the Bond franchise.
Since 1995’s GoldenEye, Omega watches have been seen on Bond’s wrist, and now Taylor-Johnson’s partnership has caught people’s attention as somewhat of an Easter egg.
Pierce Brosnan was the first Bond lead to wear an Omega watch, with the ambassadorship still going strong 30 years later, as Craig sported the brand’s Seamaster watch during his last outing.
After signing his own deal, Taylor-Johnson said: ‘I have always had an appreciation for timepieces, but especially for Omega.
‘Now, after visiting the factory, I am in awe of the skill required to manufacture such a luxurious product.’
Omega’s CEO also heaped praise on him, branding Taylor-Johnson a ‘versatile actor with a range that covers action, thriller, romance, and much more’.
That sounds like the perfect description of a James Bond actor if ever we heard one…
And we aren’t the only ones thinking it as, after Taylor-Johnson’s new deal went public, fans took to Omega’s Instagram comments in force.
‘Do I hear the 007 theme? 😉🍸’, teased @watchbie.
‘Bro has to be the new James Bond at this point’, declared @julianheusschen.
‘Hello Mr. Bond, we have been expecting you’, wrote @thatonebondguy.
‘The biggest clue yet that he’s going to be James Bond’, added @charliesansom.
When previously quizzed on the speculation that he’s set to play the secret agent, Taylor-Johnson played coy.
Speaking to Rolling Stone UK in March 2024, the Bullet Train star began: ‘I can only really talk about the things I’m going to show and tell. So, The Fall Guy, Nosferatu, Kraven the Hunter… I’m here to promote those.’
Who could be the next James Bond? Top favourites
Theo James – 6/4
Henry Cavill – 3/1
Aaron Taylor-Johnson – 7/2
James Norton – 6/1
Jack Lowden – 12/1
Odds provided by Coral.
‘I don’t feel like I need to have a future drawn out for me,’ he added. ‘I feel like whatever’s drawn out for me, I can f***in’ do better.’
Meanwhile, White Lotus star James, 40, recently soared up the odds, as his likelihood of playing Bond now sits at 6/4.
The Gentleman actor has also played it cool when asked about the rumours, though, having told The Guardian last year that it ‘probably wouldn’t be [him]’.
And so the mystery is likely to linger for a little longer, but with the announcement earlier this year that Amazon Prime had taken over ‘creative control’ of the Bond franchise, it seems the wheels are definitely in motion for something to happen…
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