All the actors who have played James Bond

The long search for the next James Bond looks set to be over, with Nocturnal Animals and Kick-Ass star Aaron Taylor-Johnson set to get his licence to kill next week, according to British tabloid newspaper The Sun.

The 33-year-old appears to have beaten off rumoured competition from the likes of Taron Egerton, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy and Henry Cavill to fill the void left by Daniel Craig’s departure after 2021′s ‘No Time to Die’.

Taylor-Johnson could become only the eighth man to play agent 007 on the big screen. Here’s a look at those who have gone before him.

Sean Connery (1962-1967, 1971 and 1983)

Connery was the first actor to play James Bond, with many considering him the best.

He played the character for the first five Bond films, before returning after skipping the sixth film. He reprised the role one last time in an EON-produced Bond film in 1971′s ‘Diamonds Are Forever,’ but also appeared in ‘Never Say Never Again’ in 1983, the second and most recent movie not to be produced by EON Productions.

Bond author Ian Fleming didn’t support the choice of Connery at first, as he didn’t think he had the elegance for the role at first. Unlike the book, Connery’s version played up Bond’s promiscuous ways.

David Niven (1967)

Perhaps one of the lesser known names on this list. Niven played Bond in the 1967 ‘Casino Royale’, though it isn’t considered an official 007 film since it was the first not to be produced by EON Productions.

Niven was Ian Fleming’s first choice before Connery was cast, and he portrayed an older Bond who had won a Victoria Cross and had settled down with a child.

George Lazenby (1969)

After Connery briefly decided to retire from the role of James Bond, George Lazenby took over for 1969′s ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’.

Relatively unknown at the time, Lazenby only played 007 for one film before his agent talked him out of appearing in future films as he told him secret agent films were going out of style.

Roger Moore (1973-1985)

Best known for his work on the small screen in shows like ‘The Saint’ and ‘The Persuaders’, Moore went on to appear in seven James Bond movies - the most by a single actor.

Moore’s 007 films were more light-hearted than previous movies, and he is also considered as one of the more elegant portrayals of Bond.

Timothy Dalton (1987-1989)

Dalton’s time as James Bond was relatively short, only appearing in two films following Moore’s retirement.

He remains one of the more popular 007 performers, with his portrayal shifting back to a more serious James Bond that was more in line with the character from the books.

Dalton was set to appear in a third film, however a legal dispute regarding the Bond catalogue pushed it back until a year after his contract expired.

Pierce Brosnan (1995-2002)

After landing the role in 1994, Brosnan made his first appearance as James Bond in 1995′s ‘GoldenEye’.

He was seen by many as a blend of Connery’s and Moore’s portrayal of the character, with more jokes than Dalton’s.

Brosnan was set to appear in a fifth film, but contract talks stalled and he eventually walked away from the character in 2004.

Daniel Craig (2006-2021)

The most recent James Bond, Craig made his first appearance in 2006′s ‘Casino Royale’. The movie was warmly received by fans and critics, who praised the grittier portrayal.

While some questioned Craig’s casting before the film, there were no doubts after it. Although subsequent films varied in terms of quality, Craig’s portrayal is considered by many as one of the best.

His last appearance came in 2021′s ‘No Time to Die’, with Taylor-Johnson now set to slip into the 007 tuxedo. We may have to wait a while to see him in his new role, however, with producer Barbara Broccoli stating in February there was “nothing happening yet” with regard to a new film.