"James Bond to Stay British, Not American, Says Brosnan; 'Longlegs' Director Slams Bezos"

The James Bond franchise is currently enveloped in speculation and uncertainty following Amazon's acquisition of full creative control over the iconic 007 series. As fans eagerly await news on who will step into the shoes of the suave spy next, a recent report sheds light on the future direction of the character.

According to the Mail on Sunday, Amazon has made it clear through an internal memo that James Bond will remain a man and continue to be British or from the Commonwealth. This decision effectively rules out non-British actors like Ryan Gosling, much to the relief of traditionalists such as Pierce Brosnan, who played Bond from 1995 to 2002. Brosnan, speaking to The Telegraph, emphasized that it's "a given" that Bond should be British.

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With the door open to actors from the Commonwealth, Australian star Chris Hemsworth, who has previously expressed interest in the role, emerges as a potential candidate. In a 2019 interview with Balance magazine, Hemsworth highlighted his performance as British Formula One driver James Hunt in the film Rush as a potential audition tape for Bond. He stated, "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 is out of his hands, emphasizing that it's a collective choice made by Bond fans, producer Barbara Broccoli, and the entire team. Following the Mail on Sunday's report, speculation about Hemsworth's potential casting intensified, with The Today Show Australia confidently stating, "It's a surety. He is in."

Concerns about the future direction of the franchise have grown since Amazon's acquisition and the stepping back 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." Amazon is reportedly on the hunt for a new producer, with David Heyman, known for his work on the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series, being the kind of visionary they seek.

Director Christopher Nolan showed interest in helming a Bond film after Tenet, but Broccoli reportedly rejected his proposal due to her insistence on retaining final cut control. Nolan subsequently directed Oppenheimer, which became a critical and commercial success, earning him Best Picture and Best Director Oscars.

Amazon's control over the franchise has not been universally welcomed. During a Reddit AMA, the director of Longlegs and The Monkey bluntly stated, "No, because f**k Jeff Bezos," when asked about directing a Bond movie.

Fans are eagerly discussing potential successors to the role. While names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson are floated, Henry Cavill remains the fan-favorite to take on the mantle of 007.

Variety has indicated that Amazon cannot proceed with hiring anyone for Bond until the closure of their deal with Broccoli and Wilson, expected sometime this year. The Wall Street Journal described the current situation as an "ugly" stalemate, leaving Bond "trapped" amid the behind-the-scenes battle between Broccoli, who traditionally held creative control, and Amazon, which acquired the rights to release Bond movies after purchasing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for $8.45 billion in 2021.

Neither Amazon nor Eon have issued a comment on the ongoing developments.