James Bond to Stay Male and British, Brosnan Opposes American 007, Longlegs Director Slams Bezos

The James Bond franchise has been buzzing with rumors ever since Amazon took full creative control over 007. While the identity of the next actor to play the iconic spy remains a mystery, a recent report from The Mail on Sunday has shed some light on the future direction of the character. According to an internal memo circulated by Amazon, James Bond will continue to be a man and remain British or from the Commonwealth, effectively ruling out actors like Ryan Gosling.

This news would likely be welcomed by former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, who portrayed the suave spy 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 it's a "given" that 007 should be British, aligning with the memo's stipulations.

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The possibility of casting an actor from the Commonwealth has sparked interest in Australian actor Chris Hemsworth, who has previously expressed his enthusiasm for the role. In a 2019 interview with Balance magazine, following his portrayal of British Formula One driver James Hunt in Rush, Hemsworth said, "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 further elaborated on the process, noting that the decision is beyond his control and depends on the Bond fan community, producer Barbara Broccoli, and the entire team. Hemsworth's comments have resurfaced amid the recent report, and The Today Show Australia confidently stated, "It's a surety. He is in."

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. Amid speculation about a potential Bond TV series, Variety reported that a new Bond film remains the "top priority." Amazon is reportedly seeking a producer akin to David Heyman, known for his cohesive vision in the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series.

Christopher Nolan had expressed interest in directing a Bond movie post-Tenet, but Broccoli allegedly rejected him, insisting no director would have "final cut" under her watch. Nolan went on to direct Oppenheimer, which was a massive success, grossing nearly $1 billion and winning multiple Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director.

Amazon's control over Bond has not been well-received by everyone. When asked during a Reddit AMA about directing a Bond film, the director of Longlegs and The Monkey bluntly responded, "No, because f**k Jeff Bezos."

Fans are eagerly awaiting news on who will step into Bond's shoes next. Among the speculated names are Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, with Henry Cavill emerging as the clear fan-favorite.

According 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, leaving the future of James Bond "on pause." The Wall Street Journal described the situation as an "ugly" battle over creative control, with Barbara Broccoli, who had long decided who played Bond, now facing off against Amazon, which acquired the rights after purchasing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for $8.45 billion in 2021. Neither Amazon nor Eon have issued a comment on the ongoing situation.