- Speculation regarding the next James Bond has once again kicked into overdrive as Omega welcomes Aaron Taylor-Johnson into the fold.
- The Swiss watch brand has long been associated with 007 alongside the likes of Aston Martin and Bollinger.
- At the same time, Taylor-Johnsonโs key rival in the race to become Bond has essentially been taken out of the running after signing with Longines.
It would appear that Aaron Taylor-Johnsonโs casting as the next James Bond is all but confirmed, as the 34-year-old British thespian of Kick-Ass, Bullet Train, and Kraven the Hunter fame joins Omega as its latest brand ambassador.
The Swiss watchmaker has, of course, enjoyed a longstanding and fruitful relationship with the iconic spy franchise; immortalised in the pantheon of 007 brands alongside Aston Martin, Bollinger, and German arms manufacturer Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen. Meaning the association is as big of an omen as you can get.
Taylor-Johnsonโs Omega ambassadorship comes as his fellow โtop candidate,โ Henry Cavill, inks a contract with Longines. Which doesnโt take him out of the running completely. Though it does look increasingly unlikely, given the latter wouldnโt commit to the Man of Steel actor if there was a reasonable chance heโd jump ship soon (especially given both Omega and Longines are owned by Swatch Group).
Around this time last year, in the wake of reports that he was the top candidate after a secret screen test, industry chatter alleged that Aaron Taylor-Johnson had been โformally offeredโ the role of James Bond.
RELATED: The Reason Christopher Nolan Was โRejectedโ By The Bond Franchise
โBond is Aaronโs job, should he wish to accept it. The formal offer is on the table and they are waiting to hear back,โ an inside source revealed to The Sun; which was then cited by several far more credible publications.
โAs far as Eon is concerned, Aaron is going to sign his contract in the coming days and they can start preparing for the big announcement.โ
The same insider also confirmed a screenplay was in development with production scheduled to kick off in late 2024 at Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire. But a lot has obviously changed since then, with delays, setbacks, and Jeff Bezosโ Amazon wresting complete creative control from veteran producers Barbara Broccoli (daughter of Cubby Broccoli) and Michael G. Wilson (half-brother of Barbara).
Motivated by either a superstitious fear that heโll jinx himself or a realistic fear of an NDA, Aaron Taylor-Johnson has consistently been evasive about the matter. As always, we await an official announcement with eager (borderline rabid) anticipation.
