James Bond Will Reportedly Remain a Man and Still Be British or From the Commonwealth, Pierce Brosnan Insists 007 Must Not Be American, and Longlegs Director Says 'F**k Jeff Bezos'

The James Bond franchise is currently shrouded in uncertainty following Amazon's acquisition of full creative control, yet fans remain eager to discover who will next embody the iconic spy. Recent reports have clarified that James Bond will continue to be portrayed by a man from Britain or the Commonwealth, dashing hopes for actors like Ryan Gosling.

An internal memo from Amazon, as reported by The Mail on Sunday, has confirmed that the character's gender and nationality will remain unchanged during their stewardship. This news is likely to be welcomed by former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, who emphasized to The Telegraph that the role should inherently be British.

Potential New Faces for 007

26 ImagesWith the possibility of an actor from the Commonwealth taking on the role, Australian star Chris Hemsworth has re-emerged as a strong contender. Hemsworth, known for his roles in Thor and Extraction, previously expressed his enthusiasm for the role to Balance magazine in 2019. He humorously remarked 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's interest in the role has gained renewed attention after The Mail on Sunday's report, prompting The Today Show Australia to confidently state, "It's a surety. He is in."

Amidst Amazon's takeover, there's apprehension about the future direction of the franchise, particularly with the stepping back of long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson. Rumors suggest Amazon might be considering a Bond TV series, but Variety insists that a new Bond film remains their "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 had shown interest in directing a Bond film post-Tenet, but Broccoli rejected his involvement due to her stance on not granting directors "final cut" privileges. Nolan subsequently directed Oppenheimer, which achieved significant success at the box office and won prestigious Oscars.

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

Fans are eagerly speculating about the next actor to step into Bond's shoes. While names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (previously rumored to be a top contender) are circulating, Henry Cavill stands out as the fan-favorite.

Who’d You Pick as the Next Bond? --------------------------------

Henry CavillTom HardyChris HemsworthJames McAvoyMichael FassbenderAaron Taylor-JohnsonIdris ElbaSomeone else (tell us who in the comments!)

AnswerSee ResultsAccording to Variety, Amazon cannot proceed with any hiring for the Bond franchise until their deal with Broccoli and Wilson is finalized, expected later this year. The Wall Street Journal reported on the tense negotiations, describing the situation as an "ugly" stalemate that has left the future of Bond "on pause." Amazon's acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 2021 for $8.45 billion has positioned them to release future Bond movies, but the ongoing conflict with the Broccoli family has created significant delays.

Both Amazon and Eon Productions have yet to release an official statement on the matter.