Is Aaron Taylor-Johnson The Next James Bond?

Look, we’ve been burned before.

Every few months, some classically handsome British actor so much as blinks near a Savile Row suit and the internet lights up with “Is this the next James Bond?” headlines.

But this time… might it actually mean something? Aaron Taylor-Johnson—long-time contender, possessor of the kind of cheekbones that make villains monologue, and a man who looks criminally comfortable in a tux—just became the newest brand ambassador for Omega. You know, the official watchmaker of all the recent Bond movies. And the Internet strongly believes that it can’t just be an innocent coincidence and probably Omega just having their fun with watching everyone combust.

I mean, does slapping a Speedmaster on your wrist make you Bond? No. But this isn’t just any casting rumour—this one’s got history, horology, and a suspiciously well-timed rollout.

Omega doesn’t just hand out ambassadorships like flyers in Piccadilly Circus. They’re meticulous and calculated. So, when ATJ shows up at Omega HQ wearing a vintage-inspired First Omega in Space—an elegant nod to Bond’s space-age Moonraker days—you can’t help but squint and wonder if this is the watch-world’s version of foreshadowing.

Omega x Bond: A Brief (But Iconic) History

Bond didn’t always wear Omega.

For decades, Rolex had the undisputed wrist real estate on 007’s arm. In Ian Fleming’s novels, he wore a Rolex Explorer—a tool watch for a man of action.

In Dr. No (1962), Sean Connery wore his own Big Crown Rolex Submariner—a no-nonsense diver’s watch with a gilt dial and red triangle on the bezel. Through the ’60s and ’70s, Bond’s watches were a rotating cast of Submariners, with occasional cameos from Gruen and Pulsar.

But then came 1995. Enter Pierce Brosnan, GoldenEye, and one of Omega’s slickest moves yet.

Lindy Hemming, the Oscar-winning wardrobe stylist for GoldenEye, believed Bond would wear something with naval heritage. Omega’s Seamaster—originally issued to British Royal Navy divers—fit the brief. It wasn’t just stylish; it had credibility also. And just like that, a relationship was born.

From there, Omega made itself indispensable to Bond’s on-screen identity. Brosnan’s later films—Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day—all featured upgraded Seamaster Professional 300M models.

When Daniel Craig took over in 2006 with Casino Royale, the tone shifted—and so did the watches. Gone were the cartoonish gadgets; in came realism. Craig’s Bond wore two Omegas in that film: the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M with a rubber strap for the action sequences, and a blue-dial Seamaster Diver 300M Co-Axial for the tuxedo scenes.

Skyfall (2012) introduced the Aqua Terra 150M Co-Axial for the first time, a more refined, dressier piece meant to match the more introspective tone of the film, while the Planet Ocean 600M handled the rougher action sequences. Then came Spectre (2015), and arguably the most iconic Bond Omega yet: the Seamaster 300 “Spectre” Limited Edition. With a NATO strap, lollipop seconds hand, and a vintage-inspired aesthetic, it was the first time Bond wore a watch that was released to the public exactly as seen on screen.

No Time To Die (2021) pushed things further. Craig’s swan song featured the Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition—a 42mm titanium piece, lightweight, military-coded, with a retro domed crystal and mesh bracelet. Designed with Craig’s input, it’s arguably the most personal Bond watch to date.

Fast forward to now: Omega is deeply woven into Bond’s DNA. The watches are there, baked into the aesthetic, the wardrobe, and the myth. Which is exactly why Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s sudden alignment with the brand is more than just a stylish appointment—it feels strategic.

Could ATJ Actually Be Bond?

First off, you can’t ignore the fact that Aaron Taylor-Johnson has that annoyingly symmetrical, old-school British handsomeness that seems genetically engineered for tuxedos. He’s got the bone structure of a Savile Row mannequin and the kind of piercing gaze that directors and fragrance campaigns love. 

Secondly, he has a glowing résumé.  He has played a superhero in Kick-Ass, Avengers: Age of Ultron. He also stars in the heavy action movie Bullet Train (2022) and the straight up British drama, Nocturnal Animals. ATJ can also be kinetic and unhinged, but also still and simmering—qualities Craig leaned into, and that the next Bond needs to carry forward.

So yeah, is he confirmed? No. But if you were assembling a profile for the next Bond—someone who can slip into the Omega, whisper threats in three languages, throw a punch without CGI, and wear a dinner jacket like a second skin—ATJ’s name would be circled in red.