Aaron Taylor-Johnson and his wife, film director Sam Taylor-Johnson, were spotted enjoying a romantic dinner date in Rome on Monday evening, as speculation over Aaron potentially becoming the next James Bond continues to swirl.
Intimate Dinner at Dal Toscano
The couple dined at the upmarket trattoria Dal Toscano, known for its rich pasta dishes, signature steaks, and a broad selection of Tuscan cuisine. After their meal, they were seen waiting for their driver on Via Germanico, with Sam, 59, checking his progress on her mobile phone while Aaron, 35, peered silently over her shoulder.
A Relationship Spanning Nearly Two Decades
The pair first met 18 years ago when Aaron was cast as a young John Lennon in Sam's 2009 biopic Nowhere Boy. A year later, they announced their engagement and married at Somerset's Grade II listed Babington House in 2012. They have two daughters together, Wylda, 15, and Romy, 14. Sam also has two older daughters, Angelica, 27, and Jessie, 18, from her previous marriage to Jay Jopling.
Despite their successful first collaboration, the couple's only other film together was a 2019 adaptation of James Frey's novel A Million Little Pieces, directed by Sam and starring Aaron as the troubled central character.
Privacy and Age Gap
Both Sam and Aaron are known for being extremely private, keeping their youngest children out of the spotlight. Aaron explained in an interview with Harper's Bazaar: 'We live behind walls. Literally, figuratively, and deliberately. You'll never see our children or any of our most personal moments on social media or in the press.'
In 2025, Sam addressed the continued fascination with their age gap marriage, telling the BBC: 'I guess that interest was more when we got together, which was now 14 years – at the beginning, was quite intense. And that sort of fascination, because he's younger than me, which you know, we couldn't really fathom the fascination. But I guess it's sort of gone away a little bit.'
James Bond Speculation Heats Up
Aaron Taylor-Johnson has surged back into contention to become the next James Bond, following Daniel Craig's departure from the role. For months, the race appeared to be between Callum Turner and Jacob Elordi, but a 'major curveball' has seen Aaron's odds slashed from 7/1 to 5/1, making him the most backed candidate by Ladbrokes punters. Turner remains the frontrunner, but his odds have drifted from 5/6 to 5/4, while Elordi holds firm as second favourite at 9/4.
Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: 'Just when you think the 007 race has settled, the public throws a curveball. For months, it's been a two-horse race between Callum Turner and Jacob Elordi, but this latest wave of bets puts Aaron Taylor-Johnson right back in the mix for the role.'
Speculation over the next Bond has intensified with Amazon's acquisition of the franchise. Reports suggest that Amazon bosses are considering locations for the next film, which is expected to be released in late 2026 or 2027.
