The James Bond rumor mill continues to churn following the surprising news that Amazon has taken full creative control over the 007 franchise. Despite the change in management, the identity of the next actor to play the iconic British spy remains a mystery. However, a recent report from The Mail on Sunday sheds light on Amazon's plans, stating that an internal memo confirmed James Bond will continue to be a man and hail from Britain or the Commonwealth. This decision effectively rules out actors like Ryan Gosling, who had been speculated as potential candidates.
This news is likely to be well-received by Irish actor Pierce Brosnan, who portrayed Bond in four films from 1995 to 2002. In an interview with The Telegraph, Brosnan emphasized that Bond should indeed be British, calling it "a given."
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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, after being noted for his portrayal of British Formula One driver James Hunt in Rush, Hemsworth remarked, "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 also highlighted the importance of the decision being an organic one made by the Bond community and producers like Barbara Broccoli.
Following The Mail on Sunday's report, Hemsworth's comments have resurfaced, fueling speculation. The Today Show Australia even went as far as to declare, "It's a surety. He is in."
Amidst Amazon's acquisition, there is some concern about the future direction of the James Bond franchise, especially with Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson stepping back. Speculation has arisen that Amazon might consider a Bond TV series, but Variety reports that a new Bond film remains the "top priority." Amazon's first step will be to find a producer, with David Heyman, known for the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series, being the kind of visionary they're seeking.
Director Christopher Nolan had reportedly shown interest in helming a Bond film after Tenet, but Broccoli allegedly insisted on retaining final cut, leading Nolan to direct Oppenheimer instead, which became a major success, earning nearly $1 billion and winning multiple Oscars.
Amazon's control over Bond has not been universally welcomed. A director, known for Longlegs and The Monkey, made his stance clear during a Reddit AMA, stating, "No, because f**k Jeff Bezos."
Fans are eager to find out who will next don the tuxedo as James Bond. 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 as Superman and in The Witcher.
AnswerSee ResultsVariety reports that Amazon cannot proceed with hiring anyone for Bond until the conclusion of its deal with Broccoli and Wilson, expected sometime this year. An explosive report suggested that the franchise is "on pause" due to an ongoing "ugly" stalemate between the Broccoli family and Amazon. The Wall Street Journal noted that this conflict has left Bond "trapped," as Amazon acquired the rights to release Bond movies following its purchase of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for $8.45 billion in 2021.
Neither Amazon nor Eon have issued comments on the matter as of yet.
