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He already bulked up for the Hollywood hit film Tenet and radically overhauled his physique for the action comedy Bullet Train.
But now Aaron Taylor-Johnson faces another herculean challenge: transforming himself into James Bond.
The 33-year-old has been rumored to have officially been offered the job to replace Daniel Craig as 007, beating out a star-studded list of suitors Idris Elba, Tom Hardy and Henry Cavil.
Taylor-Johnson’s personal trainer Matt Hodges has now shared a fascinating insight into how the future Bond could strengthen himself for MI6 service – and the advice could apply to other men too.
Speaking to Men’s Health, Mr Hodges, who previously worked in fitness modeling, said he would recommend a three-month bodybuilding regime to someone with a body like Taylor-Johnson’s.
Kale-growing feminist Aaron Taylor-Johnson is said to be the next James Bond and apparently has the 007 contract in hand.
A chiseled Aaron Taylor Johnson posing for Calvin Klein in its 2023 ad campaign
“Sixteen weeks is what I would call a minimum to get to a decent size,” Mr. Hodges said. Men’s health.
For the actor, who has already built his strong figure over many years, the personal trainer suggests a mix of weighted squats, lunges and pull-ups.
Mr. Hodges recommends doing four to six repetitions of the following exercises, with a two-minute rest between sets:
- Goblet crouches. For these, Mr Hodges says you’ll need to grab a kettlebell or heavy dumbbell and hold the weight across your chest, before squatting with your feet shoulder-width apart and your back straight.
- Standing military press. This involves using dumbbells or dumbbells, starting with them at shoulder height and pushing the weights overhead so your arms are fully extended, and repeat.
- Rack pulls. It’s like a deadlift, but it starts on the rack rather than the floor, Hodges tells Men’s Health. Start with your feet shoulder-width apart, shoulders back, stand up straight and lift the weight with a slight bend in your knees.
- Dead pulls. This move involves gripping an overhead bar with your palms facing out, removing your weight from the ground, and hanging.
- Dumbbell Forward Lunges. Finish by performing 10 forward lunges with a barbell and hold the ski seated for one minute. The ski sit involves standing with your back to the wall and squatting as if you were sitting on an invisible chair.
Bond film producers previously said the next 007 would be male, British and young enough to commit to the role for 15 years – Taylor-Johnson ticks those boxes perfectly. The actor met his wife Sam, 58 (pictured right), a filmmaker on the set of Nowhere Boy, when he was just 18 and director Sam was 42. They didn’t meet until ‘after finishing the project, then got married in 2012
However, building muscle wasn’t always the goal of Taylor-Johnson’s acting roles. The self-proclaimed feminist, who grew kale and pumpkins, previously enjoyed film success as weed hero Dave Lizewski in the comedy Kick-Ass.
While filming Bullet Train with Brad Pitt, released in 2022, Taylor-Johnson followed a keto diet to lose weight.
The ketogenic diet, also known as the keto diet, involves cutting out almost all carbohydrates and adding a large amount of fat and protein to each meal.
As a result, bread, rice and pasta are completely excluded, as are sweets, chocolate and cakes. Even dairy products, fruits and vegetables are limited.
The diet aims to force the body to burn fat for energy instead of glucose – a process known as ketosis.
But instead of a no-carb diet, Hodges recommends a balanced diet that will provide enough fuel for a bodybuilding routine. He suggests increasing protein and carbs if you want to build muscle.
Taylor-Johnson, who played a hitman, admitted he became “all skinny and scrawny” for the role.
He claimed it caused him to pass out during a fight scene because it left him with hypoglycemia.
Responding to Bond rumors last week, Taylor-Johnson offered a no-denial: “I find it charming and wonderful that people see me in this role. I take that as a great compliment.