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

The James Bond franchise is in a state of flux following Amazon's acquisition of full creative control, leaving fans eagerly awaiting news on who will don the iconic tuxedo next. A recent report from the Mail on Sunday has shed light on Amazon's plans, confirming that James Bond will remain a man and continue to be British or from the Commonwealth, effectively ruling out actors like Ryan Gosling. This decision aligns with the sentiments of former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, who emphasized to The Telegraph that the character should be British, a stance likely to resonate with traditionalists.

The possibility of casting someone from the Commonwealth has reignited interest in Australian actor Chris Hemsworth, who has previously expressed his enthusiasm for the role. In a 2019 interview with Balance magazine, Hemsworth highlighted his portrayal of British Formula One driver James Hunt as a potential audition for Bond, stating, "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 have resurfaced amid speculation, with The Today Show Australia boldly claiming, "It's a surety. He is in."

The Next James Bonds Who Never Played 007

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Concerns about the future direction of the franchise have grown since 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 has reported that a new Bond film remains the "top priority." Amazon is reportedly on the hunt for a producer akin to David Heyman, who successfully guided the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series.

Director Christopher Nolan, who showed interest in helming a Bond movie after Tenet, was reportedly turned down by Broccoli, who insisted no director would have "final cut" under her watch. Nolan went on to direct Oppenheimer, which was a massive success, earning nearly $1 billion globally and securing best picture and best director Oscars.

Amazon's control over Bond has not been universally welcomed. The director of Longlegs and The Monkey expressed his disdain for the idea of working on a Bond project under Amazon's Jeff Bezos during a Reddit AMA, bluntly stating, "No, because f\*\*k Jeff Bezos."

The speculation about who will next play Bond continues to captivate fans. While names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson have been floated, the fan-favorite remains Henry Cavill, known for his roles as Superman and in The Witcher.

Variety has reported that Amazon cannot proceed with casting for Bond until the resolution of its deal with Broccoli and Wilson, expected sometime this year. The ongoing tension between the Broccoli family, who have historically controlled the franchise's creative direction, 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. The Wall Street Journal described the situation as an "ugly" stalemate, suggesting that Bond is "trapped" amid these negotiations. Neither Amazon nor Eon Productions have issued a comment on the matter.