Speculation regarding the next actor to portray James Bond received a jolt of excitement when the British tabloid “The Sun” published an article claiming that Aaron Taylor-Johnson, a 33-year-old British actor, had been offered the iconic role of 007.

According to an unnamed source cited by The Sun, the offer was on the table for Taylor-Johnson to become the next Bond, pending his acceptance. CNN has reached out to Eon Productions and Taylor-Johnson’s team for comments on the matter.

These rumors about Taylor-Johnson come after years of anticipation regarding who will succeed Daniel Craig as Bond following his final appearance in “No Time to Die” in 2021.

However, a source with knowledge of the situation has informed CNN that Taylor-Johnson has not been cast as Bond. Additionally, BBC News reports that a “production insider” has denied the validity of the rumors surrounding Taylor-Johnson’s casting.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson gained recognition as a mainstream actor after his role in the 2008 teen comedy “Angus, Thongs and the Perfect Snogging.” He achieved further success with his breakthrough performance in 2010’s “Kickass.” In 2017, he won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the neo-noir film “Nocturnal Animals,” directed by fashion designer Tom Ford.

Various other actors have been mentioned as potential contenders for the Bond role, including British actor Henry Cavill and Irish actor Cillian Murphy, who recently won an Oscar for Best Actor. Pierce Brosnan, a former Bond himself, expressed admiration for Murphy, stating that he would do a fantastic job as 007.

For years, there has also been speculation about Idris Elba becoming the first black James Bond. Elba expressed feeling flattered by the suggestions but acknowledged that some individuals reacted negatively due to the discussions revolving around race. Nonetheless, he remains open to the idea.

The timing of an official announcement or the commencement of production for the next installment in the long-standing Bond franchise remains uncertain. However, Michael G. Wilson, a James Bond film producer from Eon Productions, assured Deadline last year that Bond will always continue to captivate audiences.