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

The speculation surrounding the future of James Bond has intensified following Amazon's acquisition of full creative control over the iconic franchise. Amidst the swirling rumors, one thing remains clear: the next James Bond will be a man and either British or from the Commonwealth, effectively ruling out actors like Ryan Gosling.

An internal memo from Amazon, as reported by The Mail on Sunday, explicitly states that James Bond's gender and nationality will not change during their tenure. This news is likely to be well-received by former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, who portrayed the spy from 1995 to 2002 in films like GoldenEye and Die Another Day. Brosnan himself emphasized to The Telegraph that Bond should remain British.

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With the possibility of an actor from the Commonwealth, Australian star Chris Hemsworth emerges as a strong contender. Hemsworth, known for his roles in Thor and Extraction, has openly expressed his interest in the role. In a 2019 interview with Balance magazine, he remarked on his performance as British Formula One driver James Hunt in Rush, suggesting it could serve as his "audition tape" for Bond. He stated, "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 emphasized that the decision to cast Bond is a collective one, involving Bond fans, producer Barbara Broccoli, and the entire team. Following the recent report by The Mail on Sunday, speculation about Hemsworth playing Bond has surged, with The Today Show Australia confidently stating, "It's a surety. He is in."

There's a palpable concern about the direction of the franchise following Amazon's takeover and the reduced involvement of long-standing producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson. Amidst 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.

Christopher Nolan, who expressed interest in directing a Bond film after Tenet, was reportedly turned down by Broccoli, who insisted on maintaining control over the final cut. Nolan subsequently directed Oppenheimer, which was a massive success, grossing nearly $1 billion and winning multiple Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Nolan.

Amazon's control over the franchise has not been universally welcomed. When asked during a Reddit AMA if he would direct a Bond film, the director of Longlegs and The Monkey bluntly responded, "No, because f**k Jeff Bezos."

Fans are eager to know who will step into Bond's shoes next. While names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson have been floated, the fan-favorite remains Henry Cavill, known for his roles in Superman and The Witcher.

Variety reported that Amazon cannot proceed with hiring for Bond until their deal with the Broccoli-Wilson team is finalized, expected later this year. The Wall Street Journal described the situation as an "ugly" stalemate between the Broccoli family and Amazon, which has left the franchise "on pause." This tension stems from Amazon's acquisition of MGM for $8.45 billion in 2021, which gave them the rights to release Bond films. Neither Amazon nor Eon Productions have issued a comment on the ongoing situation.