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

The rumor mill surrounding the future of James Bond continues to churn following the surprising news that Amazon has taken full creative control over the 007 franchise. Despite the change in ownership, the iconic spy's identity remains firmly rooted in tradition. A recent report from The Mail on Sunday revealed that an internal memo circulated by Amazon confirmed 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 for the role.

This decision is likely to resonate well with former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, who portrayed the suave spy in "GoldenEye," "Tomorrow Never Dies," "The World Is Not Enough," and "Die Another Day" from 1995 to 2002. In a statement to The Telegraph, Brosnan emphasized the importance of Bond's British heritage, stating, "it's a given" that 007 should remain British.

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With the door open to actors from the Commonwealth, Australian star Chris Hemsworth, known for his roles in "Thor" and "Extraction," has emerged as a potential candidate. Hemsworth previously expressed his interest in playing Bond to Balance magazine in 2019, citing his performance as British Formula One driver James Hunt in "Rush" as a potential audition tape. 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."

Hemsworth emphasized that taking on the role of Bond is a decision that rests with the Bond community, including producer Barbara Broccoli and the entire crew. He noted, "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." Following the report from The Mail on Sunday, speculation about Hemsworth's potential casting has intensified, with The Today Show Australia boldly declaring, "It's a surety. He is in."

Amid these developments, concerns linger about the future direction of the James Bond franchise, especially with Amazon's acquisition and the stepping back of long-term producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson. Despite rumors of a possible Bond TV series, Variety reported that a new Bond film remains the "top priority." Amazon's first step will reportedly be to find a producer for the franchise, with David Heyman, known for his work on the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series, being the type of visionary producer they seek.

Christopher Nolan had shown interest in directing a Bond film after "Tenet," but Broccoli reportedly rejected him, insisting no director would have "final cut" while she was in charge. Nolan subsequently directed "Oppenheimer," which became a massive success, grossing nearly $1 billion globally and winning the best picture and best director Oscars.

Amazon's control over Bond has sparked mixed reactions. When asked in a Reddit AMA if he'd be interested in directing a Bond movie, the director of "Longlegs" and "The Monkey" firmly stated, "No, because f**k Jeff Bezos."

Fans are eager to discover who will step into Bond's shoes next. While names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson have been floated, Henry Cavill, known for his roles as Superman and in "The Witcher," emerges as a clear fan-favorite.

According to Variety, Amazon cannot proceed with hiring for the Bond franchise until the conclusion of its deal with Broccoli and Wilson, expected sometime this year. This news comes after a report that described the future of James Bond as being "on pause" due to an "ugly" stalemate between the Broccoli family and Amazon. The Wall Street Journal reported that the behind-the-scenes battle between Barbara Broccoli, who had maintained 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 "trapped."

As of now, neither Amazon nor Eon has issued a comment on the ongoing situation.