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

Despite the ongoing conjecture, Aaron Taylor-Johnson has stated that he is not paying attention to suggestions that he may be the next James Bond.

The actor left admirers wide-eyed when he appeared naked for a new photoshoot, showing his highly 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 photographs show the actor wearing a cable-knit pullover, while another shows him being blown into the air by the wind against a fantastical castle backdrop.

Aaron spilled the beans on all those 007 rumours in an interview for the journal.

The Kick-A** actor is one of the performers predicted to fill Daniel Craig‘s shoes after he left the film franchise after 2021’s No Time To Die.

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 due to portray the titular role in Marvel’s Kraven the Hunter flick, told the mag: ‘I have to go by the beat of my own drum. It’s my own route, one that feels natural 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.’

 ‘I just focus on the things I can have in my hands right now ‘ Aaron said when questioned about taking on the Bond role.

‘What’s in front of me right now.’

His comments follow rumours in December that he was already 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, another strong contender for the post has ruled themselves out.

Idris Elba, 50, who plays Luther, says he turned down the role because of ‘disgusting’ bigotry levelled at his selection.

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

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.

In other news, Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan, 52, recently sparked speculation that some of his favourite actors could be the next 007 after telling the Happy Sad Confused podcast that directing a Bond film would be a ‘amazing privilege’ if he could choose the star who plays the lead.

Some of the director’s favourite actors, including Oppenheimer main man Cillian Murphy, 47, and The Dark Knight Rises star Tom Hardy, 45, have been named as bookies’ top picks to play 007, as has the most recent Batman star Robert Pattinson, 37, who appeared in Christopher’s mind-bending time travel film Tenet.

Following the success of Skyfall, Christopher was contacted to direct the next 007 film, Spectre, which was directed by 57-year-old American Beauty filmmaker Sam Mendes.

Christopher indicated two years after the 2015 film that he could ‘maybe one day’ return to the franchise.

Source My Celebrity Life.