The 007 franchise is at yet another crossroads. After seven actors and twenty-five films, they are about to embark on the next great search for a leading man.
With Daniel Craig’s portrayal of a more brutal, groundedJames Bondfinally coming to an end, who will take over?
Why Does It Matter?
The James Bond 007 franchise has been beloved ever since Sean Connery made his debut inDr. Noin 1962. Every fan hastheir favorite Bond actor. The most recent has been Daniel Craig, whose brutalist brawler grounded the character in a new and more modern society. His evolution may have rivaled his predecessors, but some were disappointed with his less-than-suave behavior and the lack of humor and gadgets.
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Fans are consistently on edge about the series. Just as they get comfortable with a new Bond, the franchise shifts, and they are asked to once again be happy with whoever comes in to fill the expensive shoes.
The Front Runners and the Controversy
Ever since Craig announced his departure from the franchise, numerous actors have been floated as possible replacements. One of the first hurdles that producers seemed to hit was whether Bond would stay a white male. There have been calls to change everything from race to gender.
Earlyfront runners included Idris Elbaand Henry Golding, with some people rooting for Lashana Lynch who seemingly took over the 007 mantle inNo Time To Die. The “problem” seems to be that producers are not ready for actors of color to take on the mantle for fear of the backlash they may receive.
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The overall feeling among fans seems to be that they would be quite willing to accept a new, different Bond as long as the films were exciting and the character extremely cool, suave, and one hell of a spy. Daniel Craig broke the mold simply by being broad-shouldered and blonde. Even that caused a bit of a stir.
However, with the knowledge that producers will go with the tried-and-true straight, white male, we seem to have a new front-runner:Aaron Taylor-Johnson. This idea has created fervor among fans as they seem quite interested in him as the next Bond. But what will he bring to the table?
The Aaron Taylor-Johnson Mystique
The 32-year-old actor would not be the youngest to portray James Bond but may have the youngest look and vivacity (George Lazenby, at 29, looked 45). He has played many different characters throughout his career, two of which have been superheroes (Kick Ass and Quicksilver). Most recently, he appeared inBullet Train,where he portrayed a British hit man, Tangerine, opposite Bryan Tyree Henry’s Lemon. The movie was a fast-paced thrill ride, but these two men stole the show as the impeccably dressed duo whose banter was quick, sharp, and fun. But they were also cold-hearted killers when they needed to be. This role may as well have been Taylor-Johnson’s on-screen audition for Bond.
For many years,Taylor-Johnson has been “that guy.”He’s been in a slew of movies where he was recognized but not recognized. Where people were happy to see him but may not have been sure where they had seen him previously. In fact, his career started by being credited simply as Aaron Johnson in both TV and film. His first big break came in the movieShanghai Knights,but his true coming-out was in the 2010 movieKick-Ass. The indie superhero film saw the actor suiting up as a wannabe, no-powers superhero. It was violent and funny, proving he had the charisma to carry a movie. This charisma has only grown through the rest of his career.
What Does He Bring to Bond?
Taylor-Johnson could bring a new Bond to the series. His ability to pull off cool but funny might reinvigorate the humorous aspect of the Bond character without it having the goofiness of the Connery years. His youth brings an interesting aspect to the game as being a new Bond in a new world might create a slew of possible issues and situations that we haven’t seen before.
The big question is if the franchise will wipe itself clean or will continue to utilize the auxiliary characters that have come prepackaged from the Daniel Craig years. This could add an interesting aspect to the entire franchise if they acknowledge the fan theory that James Bond is simply the moniker that gets passed down from spy to spy.
If this is the case, his taking over could be a bit of a stir in the British spy world. They may promote him to the new 007, and he’d need to deal with his new M, Ralph Fiennes. Famously, Fiennes took over from Judy Dench in an on-screen handoff that was met with approval by fans. This continuation seems like it could begin the trend of allowing the series to continue linearly without a complete restart.
When this happens, Taylor-Johnson could be the new guy who needs to prove himself in ways that previous Bonds may not have had to. These characters remember Daniel Craig’s Bond and may not be ready for this new guy. They may not know what to expect. Throughout his films (they are always signed to a series), we could watch his evolution from a capable yet wide-eyed newbie into the spear-tip we all expect. While some people do not want this naïveté in their Bond (after all, you don’t get to 007 status without a certain pedigree), his newfound power and resources may require some personal navigation. Not to mention that they can switch up the femme fatale aspect of the series and pair him with even more capable 00’s who he eventually outshines.
Bond is iconic, andAaron-Taylor Johnson is ready to be enshrinedamong the greats. If given the chance, he could create a Bond for a whole new generation of fans.
