The James Bond franchise is at a pivotal moment following Amazon's acquisition of full creative control, stirring the rumor mill about who will next don the iconic tuxedo. Despite the swirling speculation, one thing remains clear: James Bond will continue to be portrayed by a man and will remain British or from the Commonwealth, dashing hopes for actors like Ryan Gosling. According to The Mail on Sunday, Amazon has issued an internal memo to ensure that 007's gender and nationality remain unchanged during their stewardship. This stance is likely to be welcomed by former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, who firmly believes that the character should stay British, as he stated to The Telegraph.
The possibility of a Commonwealth actor playing Bond has reignited interest in Australian star Chris Hemsworth, who previously expressed enthusiasm for the role. In a 2019 interview with Balance magazine, Hemsworth mentioned his performance as British Formula One driver James Hunt in Rush as a potential audition for Bond. He noted, "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's comments have gained new traction following The Mail on Sunday's report, with The Today Show Australia confidently asserting that Hemsworth is a sure bet for the role.
Amidst concerns about the future direction of the franchise, particularly after the stepping back of long-term producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, Variety reported that a new Bond film remains the "top priority" for Amazon. The tech giant is reportedly on the hunt for a producer akin to David Heyman, known for his work on the cohesive Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series. Christopher Nolan, who showed interest in directing a Bond film post-Tenet, was reportedly rebuffed by Broccoli over the issue of "final cut," leading him to helm the Oscar-winning Oppenheimer.
Amazon's control over Bond has not been universally welcomed. A recent Reddit AMA with the director of Longlegs and The Monkey saw a candid rejection of the idea of directing a Bond film, with the director bluntly stating, "No, because f**k Jeff Bezos."
Fans are eagerly anticipating the announcement of the next James Bond, with a variety of actors in the mix. While names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson have been floated, Henry Cavill emerges as the clear fan-favorite. As reported by Variety, Amazon is poised to make a move once their deal with the Broccoli-Wilson team is finalized, expected later this year. The future of the franchise remains uncertain amid reports of a contentious standoff between the Broccoli family and Amazon, which acquired the rights after purchasing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for $8.45 billion in 2021.
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