It’s been two weeks since Amazon paid $1 billion to take creative control of the James Bond franchise from the Broccoli family, and the interest in the film has not diminished in the slightest.
First, in the middle of the Oscars ceremony held earlier this month, a 007 series song and dance medley was abruptly inserted, even though there was neither a new film released that year nor an integer year for the series to be released. In addition, the host Conan O'Brien made a joke that Amazon's senior vice president of global affairs would take over as the next Bond - it can be seen how big a shock this time when a Hollywood upstart took over an old IP caused.
Recently, the Daily Mail quoted a source as saying that Amazon MGM Studios has issued a memo about the 007 series, stating that the person who will play James Bond in the future "must be British or from a Commonwealth country, and must be male." Although Amazon has not yet commented on this, the intention of releasing the news can be interpreted as an attempt to dispel the outside world's doubts that this American company may turn the world's most famous agent into an American citizen in the future.
As for the gender restriction to male, it should be in response to the 2019 report that Bond would become a black woman in the then-unreleased 25th 007 film, No Time to Die, which caused an uproar in public opinion. Although it was later proved to be a misunderstanding, it has already sown the question mark of whether Bond will "change sex".
Actor Lashana Lynch briefly used the 007 code name in No Time to Die
Regarding the change of ownership of the creative rights of the 007 series, Pierce Brosnan, who played Bond from 1995 to 2002, also said in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph that this was "the right decision." "It takes great courage for them to let go of control. I hope Amazon can treat this work and this character with respect, imagination and dignity," Brosnan said.
Pierce Brosnan played Bond from 1995 to 2002
As for the future James Bond, Brosnan believes that no matter what, he must be British, which is "natural" - although he often likes to emphasize his Irish origin and obtained American citizenship in 2004. Brosnan is also the only non-British Bond, the other being Australian actor George Lazenby who played the leading role in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" in 1969.
In 1969, 007 was played by Australian actor George Lazenby in On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Interestingly, the revelations from Amazon insiders have not completely dispelled the doubts of many diehard 007 fans (or should we call them 007 fundamentalists). They are worried about three main points: one is Bond's skin color. The hot comment under the relevant news on the entertainment news website Deadline is: "Must be British, male... but not necessarily white."
The second is the issue of Bond's sexual orientation. Brosnan revealed in an interview that although he has always been open to this, the former creative controller Barbara Broccoli once told him that as long as she was alive, she would not let Bond become gay. It is not known how Amazon considered this. At the same time, this must also involve the image of the actor who plays Bond. For Daniel Craig, before becoming 007 ("The Painted Woman") and after removing the code name of 007 ("Knives Out 2" and "Queer"), he was finally able to take on gay roles without any burden.
The third is the concern that Amazon will over-exploit the IP. Although Michael G. Wilson, another former creative controller, said after reaching an agreement with Amazon that he and his half-sister Broccoli were "very reluctant" to license the IP to a TV series, long before the deal, the media had frequently reported that Amazon planned to develop a spin-off series with Bond's boss M's secretary Miss Moneypenny as the protagonist. If Amazon follows Disney's example and turns 007 into a big and useless IP freak like "Star Wars", it will inevitably lead to aesthetic fatigue among the audience.
Miss Pennywise, who has appeared in the first 007 movie "Dr. No", is expected to become the protagonist of the spin-off series.
Some die-hard fans pointed out bluntly under the relevant news on Deadline: "If Amazon really wants to make money (many people are skeptical about their ability to make movies), they will let James Bond continue to be a white, misogynistic, asshole. This is a very simple but effective formula. James Bond is not modern at all, and he should never be modernized."
Regardless of fans' expectations, the 26th 007 film is still in a blank stage without a director, screenwriter, or starring actor. The most popular candidates for the next James Bond include Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James, James Norton, Reggie-Jean Page, Henry Cavill, etc. As for the director, the entertainment media "The Wrap" previously broke the news that Amazon has managed to contact Christopher Nolan, who is currently filming his new film "The Odyssey" in Greece, which is expected to be released in 2026. Regardless of whether the rumors are true or not, there is still a long way to go before the 26th 007 film is completed.
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