The rumor mill around James Bond continues to churn following the surprising news that Amazon has assumed full creative control over the 007 franchise. Despite the shakeup, the identity of the next actor to portray the iconic spy remains a mystery. A recent report from The Mail on Sunday suggests that Amazon has issued an internal memo confirming that James Bond will continue to be portrayed by a man and will retain his British or Commonwealth nationality, thereby ruling out actors like Ryan Gosling.
This decision is likely to be welcomed by former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, who portrayed the character in "GoldenEye," "Tomorrow Never Dies," "The World Is Not Enough," and "Die Another Day" from 1995 to 2002. Brosnan expressed his view to The Telegraph, stating that it's a given that 007 should be British.
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With the possibility of casting an actor from the Commonwealth, Australian star Chris Hemsworth, known for his roles in "Thor" and "Extraction," has emerged as a potential candidate. In a 2019 interview with Balance magazine, Hemsworth expressed his interest in the role, referencing his portrayal of British Formula One driver James Hunt in "Rush" as a sort of informal audition. He remarked, "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."
Hemsworth acknowledged the decision lies with the Bond community, including producer Barbara Broccoli and the entire team, stating it needs to be an organic choice. Following the Mail on Sunday's report, speculation about Hemsworth's potential casting has intensified, with The Today Show Australia confidently stating, "It's a surety. He is in."
Concerns linger about the future direction of the James Bond franchise since Amazon's acquisition and the reduced involvement of long-term producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson. Amid rumors of a potential Bond TV series, Variety reported that a new Bond film remains the "top priority" for Amazon. The company is reportedly seeking a producer akin to David Heyman, known for his work on the "Harry Potter" and "Fantastic Beasts" franchises, to bring a cohesive vision to the series.
Christopher Nolan showed interest in directing a Bond movie post-"Tenet," but Broccoli reportedly rejected him, insisting no director would have "final cut" while she was in charge. Nolan subsequently directed "Oppenheimer," which became a box office and awards success.
Amazon's control over the Bond franchise has sparked some backlash. When asked about directing a Bond film during a Reddit AMA, the director of "Longlegs" and "The Monkey" responded emphatically, "No, because f**k Jeff Bezos."
Fans are eager to learn who will step into Bond's shoes next. Names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson have been floated, with Henry Cavill being the fan-favorite to take on the role.
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 reports of a contentious stalemate between the Broccoli family and Amazon, with the future of the James Bond franchise described as "on pause" by the Wall Street Journal. The acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer by Amazon for $8.45 billion in 2021 has led to a behind-the-scenes battle over creative control, leaving Bond "trapped," as per the report.
Neither Amazon nor Eon Productions have issued a comment on the situation, leaving fans and industry insiders alike in suspense about what lies ahead for the legendary British spy.
