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

The James Bond franchise is at a pivotal moment following Amazon's acquisition of full creative control, leaving fans eagerly awaiting news on who will step into the iconic role next. Recent reports have clarified that under Amazon's stewardship, James Bond will continue to be portrayed by a man and will remain British or from the Commonwealth, dashing hopes for actors like Ryan Gosling.

An internal memo from Amazon, as reported by The Mail on Sunday, has confirmed these stipulations, much to the satisfaction of former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan. Brosnan, who portrayed the suave spy in films from 1995 to 2002, emphasized to The Telegraph that Bond's British identity is non-negotiable.

The Next James Bonds Who Never Played 007

26 ImagesWith the door open to actors from the Commonwealth, Australian star Chris Hemsworth has emerged as a strong contender. Hemsworth, known for his roles in Thor and Extraction, previously expressed his interest in playing Bond to Balance magazine in 2019. He highlighted his performance as British Formula One driver James Hunt in Rush as a potential audition tape. Hemsworth's enthusiasm for the role has been reignited by recent reports, with The Today Show Australia confidently stating, "It's a surety. He is in."

Concerns linger about the future direction of the franchise following Amazon's takeover and the reduced involvement of long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson. Speculation about a potential Bond TV series has been quashed by Variety, which 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.

Christopher Nolan's interest in directing a Bond film post-Tenet was rebuffed by Broccoli, who insisted on retaining final cut control. Nolan subsequently directed Oppenheimer, which was a massive success, earning nearly $1 billion and winning multiple Oscars.

Amazon's control over Bond has not been universally welcomed. The director of Longlegs and The Monkey expressed strong opposition to working on a Bond film under Amazon's ownership during a Reddit AMA, citing his disdain for Jeff Bezos.

Fans are eager to see who will be the next James Bond, with names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson being floated. However, Henry Cavill, known for his roles as Superman and in The Witcher, remains the fan-favorite.

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 has reported that Amazon cannot proceed with hiring for the Bond franchise 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 Bond's future "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 situation.