Topics: Celebrity, Sex and Relationships, TV And Film, James Bond
There's a whole lot of buzz right now over who the next James Bond will be - with a bunch of Hollywood A-listers in the running to take on the iconic role.
There's been some chatter about the likes of Idris Elba, Henry Cavill, James Norton, and a handful of others possibly being set to step up to the plate for one of the hottest roles in cinema, but there's now definitely a clear favourite set to step into 007's shoes—Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
Previously starring in Kick-Ass, Bullet Train and Anna Karenina, the 33-year-old actor first rose to fame following his appearance in the cult British indie classic,
Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging.
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Recent reports have since claimed that the star has been 'formally offered' the role.
And the director of the 2008 flick, Gurinder Chadha, OBE, said she'd 'take complete credit' if Taylor-Johnson becomes the next star to rock a tuxedo and recline with a vodka martini - shaken not stirred.
Speaking at an In-Conversation at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival in 2022, Chadha opened up about her work with emerging young talent, some of whom have since gone on to become cinematic icons.
"I have launched some nice careers. I’ve made stars," she began.
"Keira Knightley in Bend It Like Beckham. She came in and auditioned. It was her first big film.
"French actress, Leïla Bekhti. She was in my episode of Paris Je t’aime. She had just started."
The award-winning director continued: "The next James Bond, we hope, Aaron Taylor Johnson, who was in my film Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging."
She then revealed to the audience how she'd fought to cast the actor in the film, adding: "I had to fight with Paramount Studios who made that film.
"I said, 'I really want to cast this guy. I think he’s huge. He’s going to be a great talent, a big star'.
"And they were like, 'Well, no one knows who he is'. And I said, ‘I know. But trust me, not yet'. And then I cast him."
Chadha then light-heartedly joked: "And of course, now, if he becomes the next Bond, I will take complete credit."
Whoever is eventually crowned the successful candidate for the iconic gig will become the eighth actor to play Ian Fleming’s beloved character, following in the footsteps of Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.
Well, I guess we'll all just have to wait and see...
Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging is currently available to stream on Netflix.
