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

The James Bond franchise is abuzz with speculation and rumors following Amazon's acquisition of full creative control over the iconic 007 series. Fans are eagerly awaiting news on who will step into the shoes of the legendary spy, but clarity remains elusive. A recent report from The Mail on Sunday shed light on Amazon's intentions, confirming that James Bond will continue to be portrayed by a man and will retain his British or Commonwealth nationality, dashing hopes for actors like Ryan Gosling to take on the role.

This decision aligns with the sentiments of former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, who emphasized to The Telegraph that the character should be British. Brosnan, who portrayed Bond in films such as GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day from 1995 to 2002, believes maintaining Bond's British roots is essential.

The Next James Bonds Who Never Played 007

26 Images

With the door open to actors from the Commonwealth, Australian star Chris Hemsworth has emerged as a potential candidate. Hemsworth, known for his roles in Thor and Extraction, previously expressed his interest in playing Bond. In 2019, he told Balance magazine, "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's comments resurfaced after The Mail on Sunday's report, and The Today Show Australia confidently declared, "It's a surety. He is in." Could Chris Hemsworth indeed be the next James Bond? Only time will tell.

Amid concerns about the franchise's future under Amazon's control, there's speculation about potential shifts, including the possibility of a Bond TV series. However, Variety reported that a new Bond film remains the "top priority." Amazon is reportedly on the hunt for a producer, with David Heyman, known for his work on the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series, being the kind of visionary they seek.

Christopher Nolan showed interest in directing a Bond film post-Tenet, but Barbara Broccoli, a long-time producer of the franchise, reportedly rejected him, insisting that no director would have "final cut" while she was in charge. Nolan went on to direct Oppenheimer, which was a massive success, grossing nearly $1 billion globally and winning multiple Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director.

Amazon's control over Bond has not been universally welcomed. When asked during a Reddit AMA if he would direct a Bond film, the director of Longlegs and The Monkey responded emphatically, "No, because f**k Jeff Bezos."

Fans are eager to know who will play Bond next. While names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson have been floated, the fan-favorite appears to be Henry Cavill, known for his roles as Superman and in The Witcher.

According to Variety, Amazon cannot proceed with hiring for Bond until the closure of its deal with the Broccoli-Wilson family, expected later this year. This comes after reports of an "ugly" stalemate between the Broccoli family and Amazon, leaving the future of the franchise "on pause," as per the Wall Street Journal. Amazon and Eon Productions have yet to comment on these developments.