Los Angeles, California – George Lazenby, the actor who portrayed James Bond in the 1969 film “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” has expressed his support for Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the potential new face of the iconic spy character. Lazenby, speaking to TMZ, praised Taylor-Johnson’s ability to handle the physical demands of the role, mentioning his confidence in the actor’s suitability to attract the admiration of Bond’s female fanbase.
While Taylor-Johnson has not received a formal offer for the role, there have been speculations in the Sun about Eon Productions considering him for the part in the upcoming 26th Bond movie. However, Taylor-Johnson seemed to downplay these rumors in an interview with GQ, indicating a preference for diverse roles beyond action movies.
The possibility of Taylor-Johnson’s casting as James Bond has sparked a controversial response, with the hashtag #BoycottJamesBond trending on social media platforms like Twitter. Some individuals have expressed opposition to a Jewish actor taking on the lead role, raising concerns of antisemitism in the casting decision.
Notably, Taylor-Johnson has previously discussed his Jewish heritage, mentioning an instance where he appreciated being compared to a fashionable Hasidic Jew due to his curly hair and Jewish roots. With Daniel Craig concluding his tenure as Bond in 2021 with “No Time to Die,” speculation regarding his successor has included names like Tom Hardy, Tom Hiddleston, and Idris Elba.
As discussions around the next James Bond continue to evolve, the endorsement from George Lazenby adds an interesting twist to the casting narrative. Whether Taylor-Johnson will ultimately don the famous tuxedo and step into the shoes of the suave secret agent remains to be seen, but the anticipation and controversy surrounding the casting decision only add to the intrigue of the iconic film franchise.