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

The James Bond franchise continues to be a hotbed of speculation and rumors, especially since Amazon took full creative control over 007. The identity of the next actor to don the iconic tuxedo remains a mystery, but new reports shed light on what fans can expect from the future of the British spy.

According to The Mail on Sunday, Amazon has circulated an internal memo confirming that James Bond will remain a man and be British or from the Commonwealth. This decision effectively rules out actors like Ryan Gosling. This news would likely be welcomed by Pierce Brosnan, who portrayed Bond in four films from 1995 to 2002. In an interview with The Telegraph, Brosnan emphasized that Bond should be British, stating, "it's a given."

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If an actor from the Commonwealth is considered, Australian star Chris Hemsworth, who has previously expressed interest in the role, could be a contender. In a 2019 interview with Balance magazine, Hemsworth 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 decision lies with the Bond community, producer Barbara Broccoli, and the entire team, noting, "it has to be a very organic decision from them." Following the report from The Mail on Sunday, The Today Show Australia speculated that Hemsworth could be a sure bet for the role.

Concerns linger about the franchise's future following Amazon's acquisition and the stepping back of long-term producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. Amidst rumors that Amazon might shift towards a Bond TV series, Variety reported that 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.

Christopher Nolan expressed interest in directing a Bond film post-Tenet, but Broccoli insisted no director would have "final cut" under her leadership, leading Nolan to direct Oppenheimer instead. Oppenheimer was a critical and commercial success, grossing nearly $1 billion globally and winning Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director.

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

Fans eagerly await news on who will next play Bond, with names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and the fan-favorite Henry Cavill being mentioned. Cavill, known for his roles in Superman and The Witcher, is reportedly a top choice among fans.

According to Variety, Amazon cannot hire anyone for Bond until the closure of its deal with the Broccoli-Wilson team, expected sometime this year. This follows reports that the franchise is "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 has long controlled Bond's creative direction, and Amazon, which acquired the rights after buying Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for $8.45 billion in 2021, has left Bond's future "trapped."

Neither Amazon nor Eon have issued comments on these developments.