James Bond frontrunners channel 007 at Venice – but the favourite is rebelling

Jacob Elordi, Callum Turner and Aaron Taylor-Johnson are all in the running to be the next James Bond (Picture: Getty/REX)

The frontrunners to be the next James Bond have swaggered into Venice Film Festival looking primed for the famous role, bar the bookies’ favourite who took a more shaggy approach.

Dua Lipa’s beau and Masters of the Air star Callum Turner, 35, turned up to the Frankenstein premiere in a crisp Bond-esque white suit and bow tie, earning his third place in the current Bond odds.

Elsewhere, Saltburn’s Jacob Elordi, 28, looked every bit a Bond in his black double-breasted suit and relaxed red carpet saunter, as he is currently in the top ten contenders to take the 007 mantle from Daniel Craig after he stepped down in 2021.

He may be the frontrunner at the bookies to be the next James Bond, but Aaron Taylor-Johnson isn’t exactly channelling 007’s suave style just yetas he rocked up sporting a rebellious beard.

The 28 Years Later star, 35 – who first found fame as heartthrob Robbie on Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging in 2008 – arrived at Venice Film Festival this week sporting a somewhat shaggy look.

Jacob turned up looking every bit a Bond candidate (Picture: Jacopo Raule/FilmMagic) Callum Turner was a surprising late-comer in the would-be James Bond league table (Picture: Ernesto Ruscio/Getty Images) Aaron Taylor-Johnson is the current favourite for the role (Picture: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock)

The Nowhere Boy actor was hardly recognisable under a white cap, sunglasses and a mountain of brunette, curly hair, which seems to have grown out in recent weeks and months.

Aaron, who is married to 58-year-old filmmaker Sam Taylor-Johnson, has also grown a sizable beard.

According to WWD, Aaron is at the Italian festival to attend the Giorgio Armani Cinema Club, which aims to gather actors, brands and influencers during the festival, alongside the likes of Cate Blanchett and Sadie Sink.

It is rumoured this new rugged look from Aaron is for a new role in Werwulf, which will see him collaborate once again with Nosferatu director Robert Eggers.

Aaron is under all that hair somewhere, and he’s looking notably unlike James Bond (Picture: COBRA TEAM/BACKGRID) His beard could possibly be for the new film Werwulf (Picture: COBRA TEAM/BACKGRID)

While not much is known about the film at this stage, it also reportedly stars Lily-Rose Depp and Willem Dafoe, though this is unconfirmed. It will be set in 13th century England.

At a Lincoln Centre Q&A Eggers said this film, slated to be released on Christmas Day 2025, will be his ‘darkest’ yet. How festive.

One thing’s for sure; Aaron’s new barnet and facial hair is not for Bond, unless we’re finding the famed spy in dire straits for the next long overdue installment.

He is hardly recognisable here (Picture: COBRA TEAM/BACKGRID) Aaron is married to Sam Taylor-Johnson and the pair have a 23-year age gap (Picture: Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

After Daniel Craig stepped down following 2021’s No Time To Die, there’s been a barrage of never-ending rumours as to who will get the keys to this particular Aston Martin next.

New owners Amazon MGM, who are responsible for finding Daniel’s 007 successor with full creative control bought from longtime Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson earlier this year, haven’t given much away.

But the odds are well and truly on. After former favourite Idris Elba ruled himself out, and Aaron became the frontrunner, with other tipped actors including James Norton, Henry Cavill, Jack Lowden, Tom Holland, and Callum Turner.

Could he be the next Bond? The signs are certainly pointing in that direction (Picture: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

It was reported in March last year that Aaron had been offered the role, but this story was quickly shut down as an insider told the BBC there was ‘no truth’ in claims Aaron was joining the franchise.

But now a year-and-a-half on, Aaron is being awfully coy about his next role following 28 Years Later and its sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which are being filmed back-to-back.

Quizzed by Deadline at the horror movie’s premiere on Wednesday night he said: ‘I can’t talk about it.’

The Kick-Ass star was already being led away before the question was asked, and he flashed a smile after the cryptic answer.

Not only that, but earlier this year Aaron was also unveiled as a global ambassador for Swiss label Omega, which has been the Bond franchise’s go-to watch brand since 1995’s GoldenEye, with every 007 since Pierce Brosnan wearing their timepieces on screen.

A version of this article was originally published on August 29.

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