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

The James Bond franchise is buzzing with speculation following Amazon's acquisition of full creative control over 007. The identity of the next actor to don the iconic tuxedo remains a mystery, but a recent report from The Mail on Sunday sheds light on Amazon's vision for the character. According to an internal memo, James Bond will continue to be a man and will be either British or from the Commonwealth, dashing hopes for actors like Ryan Gosling to take on the role.

This news is likely to be welcomed by former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, who portrayed the suave spy in films such as GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day from 1995 to 2002. In a statement to The Telegraph, Brosnan affirmed that Bond should remain British, a sentiment that aligns with Amazon's reported stance.

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With the possibility of an actor from the Commonwealth, Australian star Chris Hemsworth emerges as a strong contender. Hemsworth, known for his roles in Thor and Extraction, has previously expressed his interest in playing Bond. In a 2019 interview with Balance magazine, he reflected on his performance as British Formula One driver James Hunt in 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 acknowledged the complexity of the casting process, 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. There have been a lot of names thrown out there and a lot of brilliant people can tackle that one."

Following the Mail on Sunday's report, Hemsworth's comments have resurfaced, and The Today Show Australia confidently stated, "It's a surety. He is in."

Amidst the excitement, there's also concern about the future direction of the franchise under Amazon's control, especially with long-term producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson stepping back. Variety reported that despite speculation about a potential Bond TV series, a new Bond film remains the "top priority." Amazon is reportedly seeking a producer akin to David Heyman, known for his work on the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series, to bring a cohesive vision to the franchise.

Director Christopher Nolan had shown interest in helming a Bond film post-Tenet, but Broccoli's insistence on retaining final cut control led to his departure. Nolan went on to direct Oppenheimer, which was a massive success, grossing nearly $1 billion and winning multiple Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director.

Amazon's control over Bond has not been universally welcomed. When asked about directing a Bond movie during a Reddit AMA, the director of Longlegs and The Monkey bluntly stated, "No, because f**k Jeff Bezos."

Fans are eager to learn 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 remains the fan-favorite to take on the role.

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 Wall Street Journal reported that the franchise is currently "on pause" due to an "ugly" stalemate between the Broccoli family and Amazon, leaving Bond's future "trapped" amidst the behind-the-scenes battle. Amazon and Eon have yet to comment on the situation.