The James Bond franchise is buzzing with speculation following Amazon's acquisition of full creative control over 007. Fans are eagerly awaiting news on who will step into the iconic role next, but clarity remains elusive. A recent report from The Mail on Sunday shed light on Amazon's plans, confirming that James Bond will continue to be a man and retain his British or Commonwealth nationality. This decision rules out actors like Ryan Gosling and has pleased former Bond star Pierce Brosnan, who emphasized to The Telegraph that Bond should indeed be British.
If an actor from the Commonwealth is considered, Australian star Chris Hemsworth becomes 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, he 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." His comments resurfaced after The Mail on Sunday's report, prompting The Today Show Australia to declare, "It's a surety. He is in."
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Concerns linger about the future of the franchise following Amazon's takeover and the stepping back of long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson. Amid rumors of a potential Bond TV series, Variety reported that a new Bond film remains the "top priority." Amazon's first step will reportedly be to find a new producer, with David Heyman, known for his work on the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series, being the type of visionary they are seeking.
Christopher Nolan expressed interest in directing a Bond film post-Tenet, but Broccoli's insistence on retaining final cut led to his rejection. Nolan subsequently directed Oppenheimer, which was a massive success, grossing nearly $1 billion and earning him best picture and best director Oscars.
Amazon's control over Bond has not been universally welcomed. When asked about directing a Bond film in a recent Reddit AMA, the director of Longlegs and The Monkey firmly stated, "No, because f**k Jeff Bezos."
Fans are eager to know who will be the next 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, emerges as the fan-favorite.
AnswerSee ResultsAccording to Variety, Amazon cannot proceed with hiring for the Bond franchise until the closure of its deal with Broccoli and Wilson, expected sometime this year. Reports suggest a tense standoff between the Broccoli family and Amazon, which acquired the rights to Bond films after purchasing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for $8.45 billion in 2021. The Wall Street Journal described Bond as being "trapped" amidst this conflict.
As of now, neither Amazon nor Eon has issued any official statements on the matter.
