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

The speculation surrounding the future of James Bond continues to swirl after Amazon's acquisition of full creative control over the iconic spy franchise. The uncertainty about who will step into the legendary role next remains high, but a recent report from The Mail on Sunday has shed some light on the direction Amazon intends to take.

According to the report, an internal memo circulated by Amazon confirmed that James Bond will continue to be portrayed as a male character from Britain or the Commonwealth. This decision effectively rules out actors like Ryan Gosling and aligns with the sentiments expressed by former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, who emphasized the importance of Bond's British heritage in a recent interview with The Telegraph.

The Next James Bonds Who Never Played 007

26 ImagesThis ruling opens the door for actors from Commonwealth countries, such as Australian star Chris Hemsworth, who has previously voiced his interest in the role. In a 2019 interview with Balance magazine, Hemsworth mentioned his performance as British Formula One driver James Hunt in Rush as a potential audition tape for Bond. He expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "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 also acknowledged the complexity of the decision-making process, which involves the Bond community, producer Barbara Broccoli, and the entire crew.

The resurfacing of Hemsworth's comments, coupled with the report about a potential Commonwealth Bond, led The Today Show Australia to confidently declare, "It's a surety. He is in."

Amazon's acquisition has raised concerns about the future of the franchise, particularly 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.

Director Christopher Nolan, who expressed interest in helming a Bond film after Tenet, was reportedly turned down by Broccoli, who insisted no director would have "final cut" under her watch. Nolan went on to direct Oppenheimer, which was a massive success, earning nearly $1 billion globally and winning multiple Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director.

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

Fans are eager to see who will don the tuxedo 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 choice.

Who’d You Pick as the Next Bond? --------------------------------

Henry CavillTom HardyChris HemsworthJames McAvoyMichael FassbenderAaron Taylor-JohnsonIdris ElbaSomeone else (tell us who in the comments!)

AnswerSee ResultsVariety reported that Amazon cannot proceed with hiring anyone for Bond until the closure of its deal with Broccoli and Wilson, expected later this year. The Wall Street Journal described the situation as an "ugly" stalemate, with the future of the franchise "on pause" amid the ongoing negotiations 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.

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