The James Bond rumor mill is spinning faster than ever after the surprising news that Amazon has taken full creative control over the iconic 007 franchise. Despite the buzz, we're still in the dark about who will step into the shoes of the legendary spy in the next installment. However, a recent report sheds some light on what we can expect: James Bond will continue to be a man and will remain British or from the Commonwealth, effectively ruling out actors like Ryan Gosling from the running.
The Mail on Sunday revealed that Amazon circulated an internal memo confirming that the character's gender and nationality would not change under their stewardship. This news is likely to be welcomed by Irish actor Pierce Brosnan, who portrayed Bond in films such as GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day from 1995 to 2002. Brosnan emphasized to The Telegraph that Bond being British is "a given."
Potential James Bonds Who Haven't Yet Played 007
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With the door open for actors from the Commonwealth, Australian star Chris Hemsworth, who has previously expressed interest in the role, emerges as a strong contender. In a 2019 interview with Balance magazine, Hemsworth commented on his performance as British Formula One driver James Hunt in Rush, saying, “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 acknowledged, however, that the decision is out of his hands, 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.”
Hemsworth's remarks have resurfaced following the Mail on Sunday's report, and The Today Show Australia confidently declared, "It's a surety. He is in."
Amid the excitement, there's some concern about the future direction of the James Bond franchise following Amazon's acquisition and the stepping back of long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. Speculation is rife that Amazon might opt for a Bond TV series, but Variety reports that a new Bond film remains the "top priority." Amazon is reportedly on the hunt for a producer akin to David Heyman, who successfully managed the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts franchises with a cohesive vision.
Director Christopher Nolan reportedly showed interest in helming a Bond movie after Tenet, but Broccoli insisted that no director would have "final cut" while she was in charge, leading to Nolan's departure to direct Oppenheimer, which became a blockbuster hit and won multiple Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Amazon's control over Bond has not been universally welcomed. When asked about directing a Bond film during a recent Reddit AMA, the director of Longlegs and The Monkey was unequivocal: "No, because f**k Jeff Bezos."
Fans are eagerly anticipating the announcement of the next James Bond. While names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (who was previously rumored to be a top contender) are circulating, the clear fan-favorite is Henry Cavill, known for his roles in Superman and The Witcher.
AnswerSee ResultsAccording to Variety, Amazon cannot proceed with hiring for the Bond franchise until the closure of its deal with Broccoli and Wilson, expected sometime this year. This follows a report that described the future of the James Bond franchise as "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 power to choose Bond, and Amazon, which acquired the rights to release Bond movies after purchasing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for $8.45 billion in 2021, has left the franchise "trapped."
Neither Amazon nor Eon Productions have issued a comment on the matter.
