by Mick the Ram

After months of speculation it is being reported that a formal offer has been made to British actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson for him to take over the role James Bond.

The 33-year-old, who rose to fame as a superhero in Kick-Ass and played John Lennon in Nowhere Boy, has come out of the pack somewhat to emerge as the man to take over from Daniel Craig, who stepped down after playing the famous MI6 spy for 15 years.

Unofficial reports are suggesting that he is expected to sign on the dotted line in the coming days after Eon Productions, which has made most of the films in the series adapted from Ian Fleming’s novels, decided that he was the man for the job.

Taylor-Johnson has previously appeared in Avengers: Age Of Ultron and Nocturnal Animals, as well as playing the title character in the Marvel superhero film: Kraven The Hunter. He is also set to appear in The Fall Guy, starring Ryan Gosling.

His relationship with Fifty Shades of Grey director Sam Taylor-Johnson caused a stir when they got together as he was just 18 and she was 42. They married soon after and have two daughters, and he has two stepdaughters from his wife’s previous marriage.

The next Bond movie had been delayed because of last year’s Hollywood strikes.

Official announcement soon

The belief is that Taylor-Johnson will sign his contract later this week and as soon as he does Eon will start to prepare for a big fanfare announcement.

When approached recently about the possibility of stepping into the role, the highly regarded actor modestly replied: “I find it charming and wonderful that people see me in that way; I take it as a great compliment.”

Different direction

It is said that it was his performance as a psychopath in 2016 thriller Nocturnal Animals, in which he won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor, that alerted the right people for him to be strongly considered as a future Bond.

Barbara Broccoli, the James Bond producer had remarked that it would take a long time to choose Daniel Craig’s replacement. The film-maker insisted that is was not just a casting decision, it was in her words: “More about a whole rethink about where we’re going.”