Aaron Taylor-Johnson is reportedly the favorite to succeed Daniel Craig as James Bond.
The 32-year-old British actor, best known for his roles in Kick-Ass and as Pietro Maximoff in Avengers: Age of Ultron , reportedly met with producer Barbara Broccoli, an insider said.
The Meeting Went ‘Very Well’
According to Puck , who quoted the insider, the meeting with Broccoli went very well and Taylor-Johnson has already gone as far as filming the iconic gun barrel teaser that the 007 franchise is famous for.
Top-Secret Screen Test
It was first reported in November last year that the actor, relatively lesser known than the other Bond contenders like Idris Elba and Henry Cavill, had participated in a top-secret screen test at Pinewood Studios.
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‘One Of The Front-Runners’
Back then a source reportedly told The Sun , “Aaron went for a screen test to be the next Bond in September, and the producers and Barbara loved him. He is now one of the front-runners.”
He Impressed The Producers
“Bosses at the brand were really impressed with his unique blend of acting intensity and his impressive back catalog of action films,” the insider added.
Aside from the Kick-Ass franchise and Avengers: Age of Ultron , Taylor-Johnson also starred in Bullet Train and Godzilla .
‘007’ Contenders
The Buckinghamshire native, who is the husband of Fifty Shades of Grey director Sam Taylor-Johnson, is one of several actors who have been considered for the iconic role. The others include the aforementioned Elba and Cavill in addition to Tom Hardy and Regé-Jean Page.
Daniel Craig’s ‘007’ Run
The search for the next Bond comes as Daniel Craig ends his 007 run. The 54-year-old British actor starred as the famous secret agent in five movies: Casino Royale , Quantum of Solace , Skyfall , Spectre , and No Time to Die .
Elba Was An Early Favorite
Following his fifth Bond film, Craig quit the franchise and Elba became a strong favorite to replace him. It was reported that fans and Broccoli alike wanted him for the role.
He Passed Up The Chance
Elba was reportedly “in talks with producers for so long,” a source told The Sun , but he later passed up the chance. “Fans and Barbara wanted Idris but he wants to create something for himself,” the insider said.
What Happens Next?
Now, Taylor-Johnson has emerged as the new favorite. However, Broccoli previously said that filming the next Bond movie won’t happen until at least two years from now.