Who Will Amazon Cast as James Bond?

On Thursday morn, Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder and chair, asked his X fans this query: “Which person would you choose as the next Bond character?

A day ago, that inquiry might have seemed a bit forward-looking: although Amazon’s $8.5 billion acquisition of MGM in 2022 granted it the rights to distribute the Bond films, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have been in charge of Eon Productions and the franchise caretakers for a long time. This puts them in an exceptional position with creative control over everything related to James Bond.

However, prior to Jeff Bezos’ tweet during the early hours of the morning, Amazon MGM Studios had already declared a collaborative project with Wilson and Broccoli. This collaboration granted the studio the creative rights over James Bond films.

In this unprecedented era, the Broccoli family no longer holds sole creative control over the franchise, as stated by Shawn Robbins, Fandango’s director of analytics and founder/owner of Box Office Theory. This marks a significant departure from the past, venturing into uncharted territory.

After Daniel Craig’s last portrayal as the charming, lady-loving secret agent in the 2021 film “No Time to Die”, Broccoli and Wilson made it clear that their choice for the next Bond would be a British actor who was young enough to continue playing the role for at least 15 years.

According to film historian and Bond specialist Max Alvarez, the team led by Barbara Broccoli had a practical approach to advancing the franchise. Essentially, they believed in not tampering with what works well. The character of Bond fits a specific mold, so altering it too drastically isn’t advisable. As such, Aidan Turner, who played a significant role in “Poldark” and is 41 years old, could be an ideal choice for the next 007. One reason the series has endured for so long across multiple decades is that they have kept the basic formula largely unchanged.

But with Amazon now holding the martini-soaked reins, what does the next Bond look like?

According to Robbins, it seems like the most intelligent choice, and an approach that Amazon should consider, is focusing on a younger demographic. They might opt for actors who are within the age range of 30 to 40 years old.

Argues Alvarez, much like previous suggestions, it’s crucial for the latest secret agent to have an opportunity to evolve alongside 007, not just in terms of age but also in fame. He points out that the earlier Bonds weren’t big names in cinema when they were cast as Bond. His suggestion is to select a relatively unknown actor for the role, allowing them to develop into the character and gain recognition within it. This approach seems to have proven successful in the past.

According to Henry Chancellor, author of “James Bond: The Man and His World”, it’s beneficial to draw inspiration from Ian Fleming’s initial novels when portraying the character. Fleming himself stated that he crafted Bond to be somewhat anonymous so readers could relate to him. However, Bond also possesses unique (and luxurious) characteristics such as his sophisticated taste in vehicles, attire, relationships, and mixed drinks.

He’s often portrayed as an enigmatic blend of a seemingly emotionless tough guy and a jet-setting secret agent, which is the balancing act that comes with choosing Bond. If he leans too heavily on being a tough guy, it becomes just another action movie. If he appears too snobbish with his expensive tastes, it seems like you’re waiting for a villain like Blofeld or someone else overly ambitious to outsmart him.” (Chancellor comments.)

As a devoted fan, I must admit that Fleming has undeniably shaped James Bond like no other. However, it seems his creative wellspring appears to be depleted. Eon Productions, more than anyone else, understands how to mine the original Fleming source material for gold. I’m confident they also realize the scarcity of fresh material from those depths. With only a few short stories remaining, everything else has been repurposed in some form. Thus, this marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the James Bond saga.

The upcoming chapter might lead Amazon to consider casting the Bond franchise’s first non-white actor for the first time. Idris Elba has been widely suggested online for years, but he expressed reservations about the role due to racial backlash in 2023. Even if his stance changes, at the age of 52, Elba might seem an unconventional choice for taking on the Bond character at this point in time.

Nevertheless, the Chancellor posits that just as the Commonwealth has evolved throughout the years, so too can James Bond. He argues that with modern Britain embracing diversity – we’ve seen our first Hindu Prime Minister, and our current Leader of the Opposition is Black – Bond, being a representation of Britain, could also adapt. After all, he leaped into the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games alongside the Queen! This shift in mindset might open doors for upcoming British talents like Regé-Jean Page, Damson Idris, Aaron Pierre, and Lucien Laviscount, who have gained significant fan support.

Although playing James Bond might seem like an ideal career move, Jason Squire, host of “The Movie Business Podcast” and Professor Emeritus at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, points out that it can be a complex situation, particularly from an agent’s standpoint. On one hand, having your client cast as James Bond is a significant achievement. On the other, the actor risks being stereotyped as Bond and may find it difficult to break free from this role, especially if they wish to demonstrate their versatility. Craig, for instance, has skillfully balanced this conundrum by showcasing his diverse talents in movies such as “Knives Out” and “The Queen,” according to Squire. He also mentions Andrew Scott and Barry Keoghan as two actors who possess the talent to convincingly portray Bond while continuing to explore other creative avenues.

Without a doubt, Craig’s vacated, perfectly fitted tuxedo is quite a challenge to replace, whether it’s through Amazon or Eon. As Robbins points out, “Craig’s impact and his series of films were unprecedented for Bond. The question was always going to be: How do you top that, regardless of creative control.

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2025-02-24 22:17