The James Bond rumor mill is buzzing more than ever following the surprising announcement that Amazon has taken full creative control over the iconic 007 franchise. As fans eagerly await news on who will next don the tuxedo and wield the Walther PPK, a recent report has shed some light on the future direction of the character. According to The Mail on Sunday, an internal memo from Amazon has confirmed that James Bond will continue to be portrayed by a man and will remain British or from the Commonwealth, dashing hopes of seeing actors like Ryan Gosling in the role.
This news is likely to be welcomed by former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, who starred in four films from 1995 to 2002. In a conversation with The Telegraph, Brosnan emphasized that 007 should remain British, a sentiment that aligns with Amazon's reported stance.
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With the door open to actors from the Commonwealth, Australian star Chris Hemsworth has reemerged as a strong contender for the role. Known for his roles in Thor and Extraction, Hemsworth expressed his interest in playing Bond back in 2019, citing his performance as British Formula One driver James Hunt in Rush as a potential audition. He told Balance magazine, "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. 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. There have been a lot of names thrown out there and a lot of brilliant people can tackle that one."
Following the Mail on Sunday's report, Hemsworth's comments have resurfaced, and speculation has intensified. The Today Show Australia confidently declared, "It's a surety. He is in."
Amid the excitement, there is a degree of concern about the future of the James Bond franchise following Amazon's acquisition and the stepping back of long-term producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. Speculation about a potential Bond TV series has been quashed by Variety, which reported that a new Bond film remains the "top priority." Amazon's first step will be 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 producer they are seeking.
Christopher Nolan had reportedly shown interest in directing a Bond movie after Tenet, but Broccoli allegedly insisted on retaining final cut, leading to Nolan's departure to direct Oppenheimer, which was a massive success, grossing nearly $1 billion and winning Oscars for best picture and best director.
Amazon's control over Bond has not been universally welcomed. A director known for Longlegs and The Monkey, when asked during a Reddit AMA about directing a Bond movie, bluntly responded, "No, because f**k Jeff Bezos."
As for who will step into Bond's shoes, fans have a variety of preferences. While names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson have been floated, the fan-favorite seems to be 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 later this year. This comes amid reports of an "ugly" stalemate between the Broccoli family, who had long held creative control and decided who would play Bond, and Amazon, which acquired the rights to release Bond movies after purchasing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for $8.45 billion in 2021. The Wall Street Journal reported that this conflict has left the future of James Bond "on pause," with no official comments yet from Amazon or Eon.
