Brosnan: Bond Must Stay British, Not American

The James Bond rumor mill is churning again after Amazon's surprising takeover of 007's creative reins. The biggest question remains: who will play the next 007? A recent report sheds some light, stating that James Bond will remain a British or Commonwealth man, effectively ruling out actors like Ryan Gosling.

The Mail on Sunday cited an internal Amazon memo confirming Bond's gender and nationality will not change. This news likely pleases Pierce Brosnan, who famously portrayed Bond from 1995 to 2002. Brosnan himself has stated to The Telegraph that a British Bond is a given.

Potential Next Bonds: Beyond the Usual Suspects

26 ImagesThe Commonwealth clause opens doors for actors like Chris Hemsworth, who previously expressed interest. In a 2019 interview with Balance magazine, Hemsworth acknowledged the speculation, stating he'd love the opportunity but understood the decision rested with the Bond franchise's stakeholders. His past role as James Hunt in Rush fueled this speculation. Following the Mail on Sunday report, Today Show Australia even went so far as to declare Hemsworth's casting a certainty.

Christopher Nolan's reported interest in directing a Bond film post-Tenet was reportedly rejected by Broccoli, who insisted on retaining final cut. Nolan subsequently directed Oppenheimer, a massive box office success.

Amazon's control hasn't been universally welcomed. One director, during a Reddit AMA, expressed strong opposition to directing a Bond film under Amazon's ownership.

Fan speculation runs wild, with names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and the fan-favorite, Henry Cavill, frequently mentioned.

Amazon and Eon have yet to comment publicly.