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

The James Bond franchise is buzzing with speculation following Amazon's acquisition of full creative control over 007. The identity of the next actor to don the iconic tuxedo remains a mystery, but a recent report from The Mail on Sunday sheds light on Amazon's vision for the character. According to an internal memo, James Bond will continue to be a man and will remain British or from the Commonwealth, dashing hopes for actors like Ryan Gosling to take on the role. This news is likely to be welcomed by former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, who emphasized to The Telegraph that 007 should indeed be 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 previously expressed his interest in playing Bond. In a 2019 interview with Balance magazine, he reflected on his performance as British Formula One driver James Hunt in Rush, saying, "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 acknowledged, however, that the decision lies with the Bond community, producer Barbara Broccoli, and the entire team, emphasizing that it must be an organic choice. Following the Mail on Sunday's report, The Today Show Australia confidently stated, "It's a surety. He is in."

Concerns linger about the future of James Bond post-Amazon's acquisition, especially with long-term producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson stepping back. Amid rumors of 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 work on the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series, to bring a cohesive vision to the franchise.

Christopher Nolan had shown interest in directing a Bond film after Tenet, but Broccoli's insistence on retaining final cut control led to his rejection. Nolan subsequently directed 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 universally welcomed. When asked about directing a Bond movie during a Reddit AMA, the director of Longlegs and The Monkey bluntly stated, "No, because f**k Jeff Bezos."

Fans are eager to learn 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, Henry Cavill remains the fan-favorite to take on the role.

According to Variety, Amazon cannot proceed with hiring for Bond until the closure of its deal with Broccoli and Wilson, expected later this year. The Wall Street Journal reported that the franchise is "on pause" due to an "ugly" stalemate between the Broccoli family and Amazon, which acquired the rights to release Bond movies after purchasing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for $8.45 billion in 2021. This behind-the-scenes battle has left Bond "trapped," with no official comments yet from Amazon or Eon.