James Bond favourite Aaron Taylor-Johnson plays coy as he addresses rumours he’s the next 007

Aaron Taylor-Johnson has spilled the beans on all those James Bond rumours (Picture: Norman Jean Roy for Esquire)

Despite the endless speculation, Aaron Taylor-Johnson has insisted he is not focusing on rumours he could be the next James Bond. 

Posing for a new photoshoot, the actor left fans wide-eyed as he posed shirtless, displaying his very toned physique.

Aaron, 33, gave Esquire readers a treat for the eyes as he frolicked around in dirty rain water, giving the camera his best Blue Steel as he shook his shaggy brunette locks around.

Other photos captured the movie star donning a cable-knit jumper, while a second saw him whisked into the air by the wind with a whimsical castle background.

In his interview for the publication, Aaron lifted the lid on all those 007 whispers.

The Kick-A** actor is among a list of stars being tipped to step into Daniel Craig’s shoes after he quit the movie franchise following 2021’s No Time to Die.

He left fans swooning with a new risqué photoshoot (Picture: Norman Jean Roy for Esquire)

The actor is the hot favourite to be the next 007 (Picture: Norman Jean Roy for Esquire)

However, Aaron has said he would lose his ‘f***ing mind’ if he didn’t simply pay attention to the job he currently has.

Aaron, who is next set to play the title role in Marvel’s Kraven the Hunter film, told the mag: ‘I have to go by the beat of my own drum. It’s my own path, what feels intuitive to me.  

‘I’ve never made a decision based on other people’s perspectives, or their judgments, or their expectations. You lose your f***ing mind if you do that. Your sense of worth and soul is gone.  

‘You need to understand what is integral to you and what feels right, and you’ve got to stay on track with what’s present in front of you. Kraven is what’s in front of me.’

Aaron added when asked what he thought about taking on the Bond role: ‘I just focus on the things I can have in my hands right now. 

Aaron, 33, is simply focused on the job at hand for now (Picture: Jun Sato/WireImage)

‘What’s in front of me right now.’

His quotes come after reports in December stated he had already been on set for the action franchise.

According to The Sun, Aaron ‘impressed’ bosses so much that he had already shot the iconic gun barrel scene.

Meanwhile, one other hot favourite for the role has ruled themself out.

Luther actor Idris Elba, 50, said he had declined the sought-after part following ‘disgusting’ racism directed towards his casting.

‘The truth is, I was super complimented for a long time about this,’ he said. ‘James Bond… it’s one of those coveted [roles].’

Rumours have been swirling over who will take Daniel Craig’s place since he bowed out (Picture: Eon Productions)

Idris Elba has ruled himself out (Picture: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

He added: ‘Being asked to be James Bond was like, “Ok, you’ve sort of reached the pinnacle.” That’s one of those things the whole world has a vote in. Essentially, it was a huge compliment that every corner of the world except from some corners, which we will not talk about, were really happy about the idea that I could be considered.’

‘Those that weren’t happy about the idea made the whole thing disgusting and off-putting because it became about race,’ he told The Guardian.

Elsewhere, Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan, 52, recently sparked speculation some of his favourite actors could be the next 007 after he told the Happy Sad Confused podcast it would be an ‘amazing privilege’ to direct a Bond film – but only if he could choose the star who is playing the lead. 

Some of the filmmaker’s favourite stars – including Oppenheimer main man Cillian Murphy, 47, and The Dark Knight Rises star Tom Hardy, 45, have been named as bookies’ top picks to step into the 007 part – along with the latest Batman star Robert Pattinson, 37, who featured in Christopher’s mind-bending time travel film Tenet.

Christopher was approached to make the next 007 film following the release of Skyfall, but the follow-up Spectre ended up being directed by 57-year-old American Beauty filmmaker Sam Mendes.  

Two years after the 2015 film, Christopher revealed he could ‘maybe one day’ get involved in the franchise. 

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He’s not giving anything away…