Summary

• Casting Aaron Taylor-Johnson as James Bond would continue the franchise tradition, but miss an opportunity for bold reinvention.
• Taylor-Johnson brings action star credibility to the role, but his casting would lack the boundary-pushing potential needed.
• There are many strong alternatives to Taylor-Johnson for the iconic role, showcasing the potential for a fresh direction.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson's rumored casting as James Bond would bring order to a franchise beset with uncertainty after Daniel Craig's dramatic exit from the role – yet while the 33-year-old could be a great choice for the character, it would also be a missed opportunity. James Bond is unique as a character and a franchise in that it allows multiple opportunities for reinvention. While the relationships between different Bonds are up for debate, it's clear that each incumbent brings their own unique qualities to the role. As a result, Bond offers an unusual opportunity for radical reinvention.

There is no official confirmation that Bond candidates ranging from Idris Elba to Tom Hardy. Aspects of Taylor-Johnson's CV suggest he could certainly fit the bill. However, considering the opportunity available, his casting would also be somewhat disappointing.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson As Bond Would Waste A Franchise Casting Opportunity

There is nothing inherently wrong with Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the world's most famous super spy. Given his age and track record in the action genre, he has the potential to be another long-term incumbent after the Craig era and really make the role his own. However, considering the ionate discussion about Bond's place in the modern movie industry and the opportunity afforded by Craig's definitive departure, casting Taylor-Johnson would feel like a slightly conservative choice.

Unlike some potential casting options, Taylor-Johnson would not challenge the franchise's status quo in any way. Despite bringing his own unique strengths as a performer, he would represent a continuation of the legacy that stretches all the way back to Sean Connery of Bond being white and conforming to a particular physical stereotype. These are by no means Taylor-Johnson's only attributes. However, they would prove that the series is fundamentally disinterested in shaking up its established formula, opting for another continuity casting option.

James Bond Should Change Its Casting Approach Post-Craig

Some aspects of James Bond remain immutable. His masculinity, for instance, is an essential part of his character, allowing the films to explore what it means to be a modern man and make essential social commentary in the process. However, while some things about Bond must remain the same for consistency's sake, the franchise must also modernize in order to remain relevant to a changing contemporary audience.

Part of the criticism of the James Bond series has always been its occasionally retrograde storytelling. The franchise's attitudes to women and race, in particular, have been called into question on many occasions over the years – perhaps most famously pointed out by Judi Dench's M in Goldeneye when she called Pierce Brosnan's Bond a "dinosaur". Because of James Bond's status as a landmark character and film series, the movies have a particular responsibility to push boundaries, rather than just reflect the status quo. Casting the main character forms a key part of this remit.

After the impact of the Craig era and Bond's uncertain future, the franchise has a rare opportunity to be genuinely bold in its casting. For instance, the hard reset enabled by No Time To Die's story presents the perfect opportunity for the first non-white actor to assume the role, marking a watershed moment in the franchise's history. While this is not a prerequisite for Bond to modernize effectively, it would certainly help revitalize the series ahead of whatever comes next in Bond 26, rather than retreading the same familiar tropes for another cycle of Bond movies.

There Are Lots Of Great Aaron Taylor-Johnson James Bond Alternatives

Part of the frustration around Taylor-Johnson's potential Bond casting is that there is no shortage of viable alternatives for the role. While long-term favorites like Idris Elba and Tom Hardy are likely too old to take on the part, Taylor-Johnson is part of an up-and-coming generation of actors who could bring an interesting dimension to the character. Stars like Regé-Jean Page and Daniel Kaluuya, for instance, would be bold options that could propel the franchise forward and maintain the dramatic heft necessary for playing Bond.

Even if producers feel that pushing boundaries is the wrong option for the James Bond franchise at this time, there is also a reasonable debate to be had over whether Taylor-Johnson is even the best "conservative" choice for the part. James Norton, Henry Cavill, and Richard Madden have all been touted as possible options, proving that Taylor-Johnson is far from the only suitable actor. ittedly, many of these choices would be confronted with the same issues as Taylor-Johnson. Nevertheless, the fact they're also on the table makes justifying any casting decision doubly important.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson Can Still Be A Great James Bond

While Aaron Taylor-Johnson's casting as Bond would disappoint some critics, there's no doubt that the actor has what it takes to succeed in the role. After making his debut as a child star, Taylor-Johnson has since fashioned a niche as one of the world's leading action stars – featuring in high-profile projects like Tenet, Godzilla, and Avengers: Age of Ultron. Taylor-Johnson's performances in these movies highlight that he's more than capable of thriving in a physically demanding action movie setting.

Other entries in Taylor-Johnson's resumé suggest that he could yet be an innovative James Bond actor. His success in the Kick-Ass movies, as well as roles in Bullet Train and The King's Man, suggest that his greatest strength is irreverent, tongue-in-cheek action. Replicating this for Bond would be a dramatic departure from the dour tone of Daniel Craig's movies, and would certainly represent a major change for the series. The slapstick action of Bullet Train and Matthew Vaughan's movies could usher in a return to the Roger Moore James Bond era – a move that would certainly mark Taylor-Johnson out as a distinctive franchise star.