The James Bond franchise continues to generate buzz following Amazon's acquisition of full creative control over 007. The identity of the next actor to portray the iconic spy remains a mystery, but a recent report sheds light on what fans can expect. According to The Mail on Sunday, an internal memo from Amazon confirms that James Bond will remain a man and will be either British or from the Commonwealth, effectively ruling out actors like Ryan Gosling. This news is likely to be welcomed by fans and former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, who emphasized in an interview with The Telegraph that 007 should be British.
The possibility of an actor from the Commonwealth stepping into Bond's shoes has reignited interest in Australian actor Chris Hemsworth. Known for his roles in Thor and Extraction, Hemsworth has previously expressed his enthusiasm for the role. In a 2019 interview with Balance magazine, he mentioned that his performance as British Formula One driver James Hunt in Rush could serve as an informal audition for Bond. Hemsworth's comments have resurfaced following the report, with The Today Show Australia confidently stating, "It's a surety. He is in."
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Despite Amazon's acquisition, concerns linger about the future direction of the franchise, especially with the long-term producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson stepping back. Speculation about a potential Bond TV series has circulated, but Variety reports that a new Bond film remains the "top priority." Amazon's first step 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 producer they seek.
Director Christopher Nolan, who expressed interest in helming a Bond film after Tenet, was reportedly turned down by Broccoli, who insisted on retaining final cut. Nolan went on to direct Oppenheimer, which was a commercial and critical success, earning nearly $1 billion globally and winning Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director.
Amazon's control over the franchise has not been universally welcomed. When asked during a Reddit AMA about directing a Bond movie, the director of Longlegs and The Monkey responded emphatically, "No, because f**k Jeff Bezos."
Fans are eager to learn who will next don the tuxedo as James Bond. While names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson have been floated, Henry Cavill remains the fan-favorite to take on the role.
AnswerSee ResultsAccording to Variety, Amazon cannot proceed with hiring for Bond until the closure of its deal with Broccoli and Wilson, expected later this year. Reports suggest that the franchise is currently "on pause" due to an ongoing "ugly" stalemate between the Broccoli family and Amazon, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. The conflict stems from Amazon's acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 2021 for $8.45 billion, which gave them the rights to release Bond movies. Amazon and Eon have yet to comment on the situation.
