The speculation surrounding the future of James Bond continues to swirl following Amazon's acquisition of full creative control over the iconic franchise. While the identity of the next actor to don the 007 moniker remains a mystery, recent reports have shed some light on the criteria for the role.
According to The Mail on Sunday, an internal memo from Amazon has confirmed that James Bond will remain a man and be either British or from the Commonwealth. This decision effectively rules out non-British actors like Ryan Gosling, much to the relief of former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan. In an interview with The Telegraph, Brosnan emphasized that Bond should be British, stating, "it's a given."
The Next James Bonds Who Never Played 007
26 Images
With the possibility of an actor from the Commonwealth, Australian star Chris Hemsworth has emerged as a potential candidate. Hemsworth, who has previously expressed interest in the role, told Balance magazine in 2019, "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." He acknowledged the decision-making process lies with the Bond community, including producer Barbara Broccoli, and emphasized the need for an organic choice. Following the Mail on Sunday's report, The Today Show Australia confidently stated, "It's a surety. He is in."
Could Chris Hemsworth play Bond? Photo by Tuane Fernandes/picture alliance via Getty Images.
The future of James Bond under Amazon's stewardship has raised concerns, particularly with the stepping back of long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. While there has been speculation about a potential Bond TV series, Variety reported that a new Bond film remains the "top priority." Amazon is reportedly seeking a producer with a cohesive vision similar to David Heyman, known for his work on the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts franchises.
Christopher Nolan had shown interest in directing a Bond film after Tenet, but Broccoli allegedly rejected him due to her insistence on retaining final cut control. Nolan subsequently directed Oppenheimer, which was a massive success, grossing nearly $1 billion and winning multiple Oscars.
The acquisition of Bond by Amazon has not been universally welcomed. When asked about directing a Bond movie during a Reddit AMA, the director of Longlegs and The Monkey responded with a clear "No, because f**k Jeff Bezos."
Fans are eagerly awaiting news on who will step into Bond's shoes next. While names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (who was previously rumored to be a top contender) are being floated, the fan-favorite appears to be Henry Cavill, known for his roles in Superman and The Witcher.
AnswerSee ResultsVariety reported that Amazon cannot proceed with hiring for Bond until the closure of its deal with Broccoli and Wilson, expected sometime this year. This follows an explosive report claiming the franchise is "on pause" due to an "ugly" stalemate between the Broccoli family and Amazon. The Wall Street Journal described Bond as "trapped" amid the behind-the-scenes battle between Barbara Broccoli, who traditionally held creative control over the franchise, and Amazon, which acquired the rights to release Bond movies after purchasing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for $8.45 billion in 2021.
Neither Amazon nor Eon Productions have issued a comment on the ongoing situation.
