The rumor mill surrounding the next James Bond has been buzzing since Amazon's acquisition of full creative control over the iconic franchise. The identity of the next actor to step into the shoes of the famous spy remains a mystery, but recent reports have shed light on some key criteria for the role. According to The Mail on Sunday, an internal memo from Amazon confirms that James Bond will continue to be a man and will be either British or from the Commonwealth, effectively ruling out actors like Ryan Gosling. This news is likely to be welcomed by former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, who played the role from 1995 to 2002. Brosnan, speaking to The Telegraph, emphasized that it's essential for Bond to be British.
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With the possibility of an actor from the Commonwealth taking on the role, 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 for the role, stating, "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 acknowledged that the decision is in the hands of the Bond community, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson, and must be an organic choice. His comments have resurfaced following The Mail on Sunday's report, and The Today Show Australia confidently stated, "It's a surety. He is in."
Concerns about the future of James Bond persist following Amazon's takeover and the reduced involvement of long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson. Amid speculation about a potential Bond TV series, Variety reported that a new Bond film remains the "top priority." Amazon is reportedly in search of a producer for the franchise, with David Heyman, known for his work on the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series, being considered as the ideal candidate.
Christopher Nolan, who expressed interest in directing a Bond movie after Tenet, was reportedly turned down by Broccoli due to her insistence on maintaining control over the final cut. Nolan subsequently directed Oppenheimer, which became a global box office success and won multiple Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Amazon's control over Bond has not been universally welcomed. Director Osgood Perkins, known for Longlegs and The Monkey, expressed his strong disapproval of working with Amazon during a Reddit AMA, succinctly stating, "No, because f**k Jeff Bezos."
Fans are eager to know who will be the next James Bond. While names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson have been mentioned, the fan-favorite appears to be Henry Cavill, known for his roles in Superman and The Witcher.
AnswerSee ResultsAccording to Variety, Amazon cannot proceed with hiring for the Bond franchise until the completion of its deal with Broccoli and Wilson, expected later this year. The situation has been described as an "ugly" stalemate, with the future of the franchise "on pause," as reported by the Wall Street Journal. The ongoing behind-the-scenes battle between Barbara Broccoli, who has traditionally held creative control over Bond, and Amazon, which acquired the rights to release Bond movies after purchasing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for $8.45 billion in 2021, has left the franchise in limbo. Neither Amazon nor Eon Productions have issued a comment on the matter.
