He has played superheroes, anti-heroes and musical heroes - and now Aaron Taylor-Johnson is strongly tipped to take on the role of 'cultural hero' by becoming the next James Bond.
Rumours suggest that the 32-year-old actor is in line to succeed Daniel Craig as Bond after undergoing a secret screen test and impressing producer Barbara Broccoli at a meeting at Pinewood Studios.
A source told The Sun that he had been at the famous studios - which is the traditional home of 007 - and that it had gone very well.
"Aaron went for a screen test to be the next Bond in September and producers and Barbara loved him," the source said. "He is now one of the front-runners."
Since Idris Elba took himself out of the running several years ago, there has been feverish speculation on who the next Bond might be - with everyone from Tom Hardy to Chiwetel Ejiofor to Henry Cavill also rumoured for the role.
Taylor-Johnson, who is married to director Sam Taylor-Johnson after meeting on the set of John Lennon biopic 'Nowhere Boy', has not commented publicly on the rumours.
