Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who played opposite Brad Pitt in the 2022 action comedy “Bullet Train,” has reflected on the oversaturation of action-hero films in theaters.
In the latest issue of Rolling Stone UK, which features the British actor gracing the cover, Mr. Taylor-Johnson touched upon movie fatigue among audiences.
“We’ve all had enough of seeing certain studio films, a certain kind of pop culture… where they’re churning out stuff that dilutes wanting to go to the cinema,” he explained.
Mr. Taylor-Johnson, 33, has starred in his fair share of superhero movies, including 2010’s “Kick-Ass,” its 2013 sequel, and Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” His latest action/sci-fi flick, “Kraven the Hunter,” is set for release this summer.
However, Mr. Taylor-Johnson told the publication that he wouldn’t have signed on to play the Marvel film’s titular Spider-Man villain if “there wasn’t something to really bring to life with this character.”
Instead, he said “there was something unique” and “something grounded” about the fictional character— a brutal big-game hunter named Sergei Kravinoff—that drew him to the film.
“Taking on a Sony / Marvel movie is a different challenge altogether,” he explained. “There’s the story, the character, the role; that’s one thing. But then you also step into a world where you’re dealing with a studio and a franchise—or possible franchises, though let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
“So, they’re rolling the dice on me, in a sense, which is a lovely thing,” he continued. “But you’ve got to appease the studio, please the audience and do what’s dignified for you as an actor. I find all of that super challenging.”
Mr. Taylor-Johnson elaborated on the types of films he prefers to see, detailing his adoration of “beautiful, well-constructed movies.”
The Making of an Action Star
Mr. Taylor-Johnson began acting at just 6 years old, landing his first major film—2003’s “Shanghai Knights,” starring Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson—at age 10.Throughout the aughts, he played a variety of minor roles in television series like “The Bill,” “Family Business,” “Feather Boy,” “Casualty,” and “Talk to Me.” He also graced 2006’s “The Illusionist,” starring Edward Norton and Jessica Biel, and 2008’s “Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging” before garnering his breakthrough role in 2009’s “Nowhere Boy.”
The actor was around 18 when he portrayed a young John Lennon in the biopic directed by his now-wife, Sam Taylor-Johnson, who is more than 20 years his senior. The couple had a daughter in 2010, at the ages of 20 and 43, respectively, welcoming another girl two years later, per Business Insider. The couple married about five months after the birth of their second daughter, choosing to hyphenate their last names.
The actor discussed the age gap between him and his wife and his decision to marry at a young age during his Rolling Stone UK feature. “What you gotta realise is that what most people were doing in their twenties, I was doing when I was 13,” he said.
He continued: “You’re doing something too quickly for someone else? I don’t understand that. What speed are you supposed to enjoy life at? It’s bizarre to me.”
Mr. Taylor-Johnson has since become a household name, acting in a slew of big-name films, including “Anna Karenina” (2012), “Godzilla” (2014), “Nocturnal Animals” (2016), “A Million Little Pieces” (2018), “Tenet” (2020), and “The King’s Man” (2021).
In addition to the forthcoming “Kraven the Hunter,” he’s also set to star in the action comedy “The Fall Guy”—premiering in May—alongside Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Lee Majors, and Jason Statham, as well as an adaptation of F.W Murnau’s 1922 silent horror film “Nosferatu,” which is slated for release later this year. The latter film, directed by Robert Eggers, features an ensemble cast led by Bill Skarsgard, William Dafoe, and Lily-Rose Depp.
The “Bullet Train” star is also rumored to be in the running to portray the legendary British secret agent James Bond following actor Daniel Craig’s departure from the franchise in 2021’s “No Time to Die.”
When asked whether he was taking over the “007” role, Mr. Taylor-Johnson offered little to Rolling Stone UK. “I can only really talk about the things I’m going to show and tell,” he said. “So, The Fall Guy, Nosferatu, Kraven the Hunter. I’m here to promote those.”
