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

The rumor mill surrounding the next James Bond continues to churn following the surprising news that Amazon has taken full creative control over the 007 franchise. Despite the shift in management, the identity of the next actor to don the iconic tuxedo remains a mystery. However, a new report from The Mail on Sunday has shed some light on what fans can expect. According to an internal memo circulated by Amazon, James Bond will continue to be portrayed as a man and will retain his British or Commonwealth nationality, dashing hopes for actors like Ryan Gosling to step into the role.

This decision is likely to be well-received by Irish actor Pierce Brosnan, who famously played Bond in films such as GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day from 1995 to 2002. In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Brosnan affirmed his belief that Bond should remain British, stating, "it's a given."

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The stipulation that Bond can be from the Commonwealth opens up possibilities for actors such as Australian Chris Hemsworth, who has previously expressed interest in the role. In a 2019 interview with Balance magazine, Hemsworth 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."

Hemsworth emphasized the collaborative nature of the casting decision, noting, "But that’s up to so many elements and is way beyond myself; it’s not one you can pitch yourself on to either. It’s something that the community of Bond fans, Barbara Broccoli, and the whole crew there agree on, and it has to be a very organic decision from them. There have been a lot of names thrown out there and a lot of brilliant people can tackle that one."

Following the report from The Mail on Sunday, Hemsworth's comments have resurfaced, fueling speculation. The Today Show Australia even declared, "It's a surety. He is in."

There is a degree of uncertainty 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 rumors that Amazon might pivot to a Bond TV series, Variety reported that a new Bond film remains the "top priority." Amazon is reportedly seeking a producer with a cohesive vision, similar to David Heyman, known for his work on the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series.

Christopher Nolan had reportedly shown interest in directing a Bond film post-Tenet, but Broccoli allegedly turned him down, insisting no director would have "final cut" while she was in charge. Nolan subsequently directed Oppenheimer, which grossed nearly $1 billion globally and won multiple Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director.

Amazon's control over the franchise has not been welcomed by all. When asked during a Reddit AMA if he would consider directing a Bond film, the director of Longlegs and The Monkey firmly stated, "No, because f**k Jeff Bezos."

Fans are eager to learn who will next play Bond. While names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (who was previously rumored to be a top contender) are circulating, Henry Cavill remains the clear fan-favorite.

According to Variety, Amazon cannot move forward with hiring for the Bond franchise until the closure of its deal with Broccoli and Wilson, expected later this year. An explosive report by the Wall Street Journal described the future of the James Bond franchise as "on pause" due to an "ugly" stalemate between the Broccoli family and Amazon. The battle over creative control, following Amazon's acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for $8.45 billion in 2021, has reportedly left the franchise "trapped."

Neither Amazon nor Eon Productions have issued a comment on the matter.