The James Bond rumor mill is spinning faster than ever since Amazon's surprising acquisition of full creative control over the iconic 007 franchise. Despite the swirling speculation, we're still in the dark about who will step into the suave shoes of the world's most famous spy for the next installment. However, a recent report sheds some light on the direction Amazon intends to take with the character: James Bond will remain a man and will be either British or from the Commonwealth, effectively ruling out actors like Ryan Gosling.
According to The Mail on Sunday, Amazon has circulated an internal memo that firmly states Bond's gender and nationality will not change during its stewardship. This news is likely to be welcomed by Irish actor Pierce Brosnan, who portrayed Bond in GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day from 1995 to 2002. Brosnan, speaking to The Telegraph, reinforced the sentiment by stating that it's "a given" that 007 should be British.
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With the door open to actors from the Commonwealth, Australian star Chris Hemsworth, known for his roles in Thor and Extraction, has re-emerged as a potential candidate. Hemsworth, who previously expressed interest in the role, told Balance magazine in 2019, "When we were shooting Rush, someone had said that and I thought, 'Cool, if this is my audition tape, then great.' I don’t think you’ll ever meet anyone who doesn’t want to have a crack at James Bond. I’d love to do it." He further emphasized the decision-making process, stating, "But that’s up to so many elements and is way beyond myself; it’s not one you can pitch yourself on to either. It’s something that the community of Bond fans, Barbara Broccoli, and the whole crew there agree on, and it has to be a very organic decision from them." Following The Mail on Sunday's report, The Today Show Australia confidently declared, "It's a surety. He is in."
Amidst the excitement and speculation, there's a palpable concern about the future of James Bond following Amazon's acquisition and the stepping back of long-term 007 producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. There's talk that Amazon might pivot to a Bond TV series, but Variety reassures fans that a new Bond film remains the "top priority." Amazon's next move is reportedly to find a producer for the franchise, with David Heyman, known for his work on the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series, being the type of visionary they're looking for.
Christopher Nolan, who reportedly "expressed interest" in directing a Bond movie after Tenet, was turned down by Broccoli, who insisted that no director would have "final cut" under her watch. Nolan subsequently directed Oppenheimer, which grossed nearly $1 billion globally and won Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director.
Amazon's control over Bond hasn't been universally welcomed. When asked during a Reddit AMA if he'd consider directing a Bond film, the director of Longlegs and The Monkey gave a resounding "No, because f**k Jeff Bezos."
Fans are eager to know who will take up the mantle of Bond next. While names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson have been thrown into the mix, the fan-favorite remains Henry Cavill, known for his roles in Superman and The Witcher.
AnswerSee ResultsAccording to Variety, Amazon cannot move forward with hiring for Bond until the closure of its deal with Broccoli and Wilson, which is anticipated later this year. This follows a report that claimed the future of the James Bond franchise was "on pause" due to an "ugly" stalemate between the Broccoli family and Amazon. The Wall Street Journal reported that the behind-the-scenes battle between Barbara Broccoli, who had retained creative control and the final say on casting, and Amazon, which acquired the rights to release Bond movies after purchasing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for $8.45 billion in 2021, has left Bond "trapped." Both Amazon and Eon have yet to comment on the situation.
