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

The James Bond franchise is buzzing with speculation following the surprising news that Amazon has taken full creative control over 007. As fans eagerly await news on who will step into the iconic role next, a recent report sheds light on the character's future direction. According to the Mail on Sunday, Amazon has circulated an internal memo stating that James Bond will remain a man and will be British or from the Commonwealth, thus ruling out actors like Ryan Gosling from the role.

This news is likely to please former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, who portrayed the suave spy in four films from 1995 to 2002. Speaking to The Telegraph, Brosnan emphasized that Bond should be British, a sentiment that aligns with Amazon's current stance.

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With the possibility of an actor from the Commonwealth, Australian star Chris Hemsworth, who has previously expressed interest in the role, becomes a notable contender. In a 2019 interview with Balance magazine, Hemsworth reflected on his performance as British Formula One driver James Hunt in the film Rush, saying, "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 also acknowledged the complexity of casting Bond, noting, "But that’s up to so many elements and is way beyond myself; it’s not one you can pitch yourself on to either. It’s something that the community of Bond fans, Barbara Broccoli, and the whole crew there agree on, and it has to be a very organic decision from them." His comments have resurfaced with renewed interest following the Mail on Sunday's report, with The Today Show Australia even declaring, "It's a surety. He is in."

However, there's a degree of concern about the future of James Bond following Amazon's acquisition and the stepping back of long-term producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. Amid speculation about a possible Bond TV series, Variety reported that a new Bond film remains the "top priority." Amazon's first step is reportedly to find a new producer for the franchise, with David Heyman, known for his work on the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series, being the kind of visionary they are looking for.

Director Christopher Nolan had reportedly expressed interest in directing a Bond movie after Tenet, but Broccoli allegedly insisted that no director would have "final cut" while she was in charge, leading Nolan to direct Oppenheimer instead, which became a massive success, earning nearly $1 billion and winning Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director.

Amazon's control over Bond has not been well-received by everyone. When asked in a Reddit AMA if he would be interested in directing a Bond movie, the director of Longlegs and The Monkey responded firmly, "No, because f**k Jeff Bezos."

Fans are eager to learn who will play Bond next. While names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson have been mentioned, Henry Cavill remains the clear fan-favorite.

According to Variety, Amazon cannot proceed with hiring for Bond until the closure of its deal with Broccoli and Wilson, expected later this year. The situation has been described as an "ugly" stalemate by the Wall Street Journal, with Bond's future "on pause" as the battle between the Broccoli family and Amazon continues. Amazon and Eon have yet to issue a comment on the matter.