Aaron Taylor-Johnson Redeems Himself With Hit Horror After Marvel Flop

Even though Aaron Taylor-Johnson is just 35 years old, his acting career spans more than two decades. He first gained significant attention by portraying John Lennon in the 2009 film “Nowhere Boy,” and later captured the spotlight with his role in the action movie “Kick-Ass.” Since then, Taylor-Johnson has appeared in numerous films across various genres.

In various Marvel Cinematic Universe films, he has appeared, portrayed a character in “The King’s Man”, and taken roles in standalone action movies like “Bullet Train” and “The Fall Guy”. Critically speaking, his body of work is quite impressive, although not every project can claim that accolade. Johnson’s recent films have garnered mixed responses, but the latest release seems to have offset a past misstep.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson Plays Hunters In Both 28 Years Later & Kraven

This Creates A Weirdly Specific Career Trend

Taylor-Johnson’s recent pair of films were titled “Kraven the Hunter” and “28 Years Later“. “Kraven the Hunter” is a Marvel movie produced by Sony Pictures, centered around Kraven, a hunter whose strained bond with his father propels him onto a vengeful path. The film is helmed by director J.C. Chandor.

In a natural and easy-to-read manner,

Twenty-Eight Years Later is the third installment in the 28 Days Later series, set many years after the initial zombie virus outbreak. Directed by Danny Boyle, it features Ralph Fiennes, Alfie Williams, and Jodie Comer among its stars. Interestingly, Jamie also plays a hunter-like role in 28 Years Later, similar to Kraven the Hunter from another movie. These consecutive films have given Taylor-Johnson an opportunity to establish a distinctive acting niche for himself.

28 Years Later Is A Much Better Movie For Aaron Taylor-Johnson Than Kraven

It Did Better Among Critics And At The Box Office

Although both roles for Taylor-Johnson shared some similarities, the receptions for “28 Years Later” and “Kraven” could hardly be more contrasting. Unfortunately, “Kraven the Hunter” was met with widespread criticism, earning just a 15% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Molly Freeman from ScreenRant even gave it a mediocre 5 out of 10, expressing that it “missed its mark,” or in other words, failed to live up to its potential.

28 years after its release, I can confirm that it garnered an impressive 88% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. ScreenRant’s Mary Kassel awarded it a 7 out of 10, expressing that the film evoked within her a sense of “throbbing exhilaration“. Notably, this movie has outperformed others in the franchise financially, earning over $107 million globally – setting a new benchmark for its success. This achievement significantly boosts Taylor-Johnson’s standing in the industry.

28 Years Later Can Give Taylor-Johnson The Franchise Kraven Didn’t

The Movie Already Has A Sequel Scheduled

28 Years Later has a sequel in the works titled 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Since his character survived the previous events, it’s likely that Jamie, played by Taylor-Johnson, will be featured in the upcoming film. There are even discussions about him reprising his role in a potential third movie as well.

It seems highly unlikely that there will be a sequel for Kraven the Hunter, given its underwhelming box office performance of $62 million and poor critical reviews. Had it been successful, it could have started a series for Taylor-Johnson, but unfortunately, that’s not in the cards. Consequently, the upcoming film 28 Years Later offers him an opportunity to be part of a franchise where Kraven fell short. This development is beneficial news for the actor, as he has a significant role in the zombie movie.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is set for release on January 16, 2026.

2025-07-06 23:10