Netflix fans are swooning over British rising star, 30, hailed as ‘next James Bond’-Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro

Fans are eyeing up a new James Bond after the success of Rebel Ridge (Picture: Getty)

Fans are praising a hot rising star for his action hero credentials in a new Netflix film – and suggesting he could be a perfect candidate for the next James Bond.

With the role of 007 still unfilled after Queer Oscar-hopeful Daniel Craig’s last outing as the spy in 2021’s No Time to Die, many names have been in the mix over the past several months, including Theo James, Henry Cavill and frontrunner Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

However, now a newcomer is being seen as a perfect fit for the highly sought-after role.

British actor Aaron Pierre, 30, is riding high after helming the new Netflix smash hit Rebel Ridge.

In the film, he plays former US Marine Terry Richmond grappling his way through a web of small-town corruption after an attempt to post bail for his cousin escalates into a violent standoff with the local police chief (Don Johnson).

Pierre, who has previously appeared in the films Foe and Brother, as well as TV shows The Underground Railroad and Genius: MLK/X – where he played Malcolm X – shows natural prowess in front of the camera in a physical role.

Aaron Pierre leads the cast in the new Netflix thriller (Picture: Allyson Riggs/Netflix)

Could he be a replacement as 007 after Daniel Craig’s exit from the role in 2021? (Picture: Danjaq/Eon Productions/Kobal/Rex/Shutterstock)

And it’s something thirsty fans have quickly picked up on.

As the star took to Instagram to celebrate Rebel Ridge earning the top spot in 71 countries after it scored more then 31,000,000 views over its opening weekend, many rushed to praise his performance.

‘Amazing film!! Loved it,’ wrote Great British Bake Off Star Laura Adlington. ‘Can’t wait to see you as the next Bond.’

‘Hollywood has its next action star,’ commented Marcus Nel-Jamal Hamm, an observation echoed by many as @withkendricktucker enthused: ‘@aaron_pierre1 is a STAR! Put him in ALL THE THINGS!’

‘Ahhhhh!! I’m so ready for him to take Hollywood over!!’ chimed in Ashley Nicole.

Others described Pierre’s lead performance as ‘phenomenal’, ‘incredible’ and one which had them ‘glued to my screen’.

‘I’ve watched it three times already!!! He just makes my heart skip a beat!!’ confessed Vickie Charlene Dobbs, one of many admiring comments, swooning over the actor.

‘The voice…the face…My GAWD!’ agreed JohAnna Kirkland.

However, it wasn’t just Pierre’s looks that had fans excited, as others were bowled over by certain sequences in the film that were commanding, smooth and dominant – just like Mr Bond.

‘Imagine a grown man grabbing your gun and politely telling you to simmer down before you get pistol whipped and curb stomped with your own weapon,’ posted an awed Brensten Lindsey.

While betting has recently been suspended on the new Bond following ‘strong interest’ in Taylor-Johnson, 34, for the role, we’re still no closer to an definitive answer on who it will be.

Industry experts reckon thought that it’s unlikely we’ll be watching a new 007 movie before the end of 2026 ‘at the earliest’.

Another Aaron, Taylor-Johnson, is considered the frontrunner for the role (Picture: Getty)

However, with a wait of at least two years for another Bond film, there’s been no official word on casting – or script or director (Picture: Dave Benett)

In fact, it could reach as far as almost four years into the future before we finally see the next film in the franchise.

‘Late 2026, at the ­earliest. Maybe 2027. Perhaps even 2028,’ according to a senior talent representative’s best guess, as reported by The Telegraph.

The publication’s article also saw another expert, Professor James Chapman of the University of Leicester, and author of Licence To Thrill: A Cultural History of the James Bond Films, point out that fans shouldn’t worry ‘unduly’ if that is the case.

This is because we’ve had longer gaps between Bonds previously, with Timothy Dalton’s final Bond film Licence to Kill coming in 1989 and Pierce Brosnan’s debut in GoldenEye not happening until over six years later.

So there’s plenty of time still for Pierre to be considered.

Pierre’s performance was praised as ‘incredible’ (Picture: Netflix via AP)

He also fits in line with the producers’ hunt for a ‘thirty-something’ for the next 007 and no one younger.

‘Remember, Bond’s already a veteran, he’s had some experience – he’s a person who has been through the wars, so to speak. He’s probably been in the SAS or something. He isn’t some kid out of high school that you can bring in and start off,’ producer Michael G. Wilson insisted previously.

Rebel Ridge is streaming exclusively now on Netflix.

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