Bond's Next Chapter: Brosnan & Mirren Insist on a Male 007
CLASSIFIED DOCUMENT: EYES ONLY
The world of espionage is about to get a whole lot more interesting, thanks to Amazon's £770M takeover of the iconic James Bond franchise. And it seems the new powers that be are not about to rock the boat - at least not too much.
Sources close to the matter have confirmed that 007 will remain male and British or from the Commonwealth, despite initial fears among fans that Amazon would "wokeify" the franchise. But what's behind this decision? Is it a nod to tradition, or simply a desire to keep the brand intact?
Pierce Brosnan, who played Bond in four films between 1995 and 2002, is thrilled with the news, saying he's excited to see the next man take on the role. "I'm so excited to see the next man come on stage," he gushed. "To see a whole new exuberance and life for this character... it's been very good to me, and I'm just a member of the audience now, sitting back saying: 'Show us what you're going to do'."
But not everyone is as enamored with Bond as Brosnan. Helen Mirren, who stars alongside Brosnan in the new Netflix mystery The Thursday Murder Club, has spoken out against the idea of a female 007. "I'm such a feminist," she said, "but James Bond has to be a guy. You can't have a woman. It just doesn't work." Ouch.
Mirren's comments sparked outrage among some fans, who saw it as a betrayal of the feminist movement. But the actress insists that her views are not contradictory. "I think there's been a misunderstanding," she explained. "I'm talking about the character of James Bond, not the role of women in general."
And what about Amazon's plans for the franchise? Sources close to the company have confirmed that they will be keeping the spirit of Bond alive, with a focus on maintaining the character's British heritage. But don't expect too much change - at least not yet.
"Amazon is committed to keeping the essence of Bond intact," said an insider. "That means he has to be British or from the Commonwealth, and male." Ah, but what about the rumors that Amazon wants to introduce diversity to the franchise? Not so fast, says our source: "Certain things are up for discussion, like whether the next Bond should be played by a man of color."
It seems that Amazon is walking a delicate tightrope here. On one hand, they want to keep the brand intact and appeal to traditional fans. On the other, they know that the world has changed - and audiences expect more diversity on screen.
As for the future of Bond, it's clear that there will be no major changes anytime soon. But with Amazon at the helm, you can bet that things are going to get interesting.
CLASSIFIED DOCUMENT: EYES ONLY
