“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced,” said James Baldwin. And maybe that’s where we find ourselves today, staring down a big, bold, and undoubtedly complicated change in the iconic James Bond franchise. You see, when Amazon swooped in and purchased MGM for a staggering $8.5 billion, it snagged an impressive array of properties.
However, the spy franchise remained the crown jewel of the deal and it wasn’t just Henry Cavill’s Bond dreams that hung in the balance. No, something bigger was at stake—something far more fundamental to the legacy of 007.
As if fans weren’t already biting their nails over who would replace Daniel Craig, now the very foundation of the Bond universe is being reshaped in ways that nobody could have predicted. The prospect of a female 007? Sure, it sounds fresh, but is it right for the character? The question is no longer who should play Bond, but what exactly is the franchise going to become in a streaming world?
Henry Cavill’s James Bond dreams: A close call that never was?
Back in 2005, Henry Cavill had his eyes locked on the role of James Bond — but fate had other plans. At just 22, he was seen as too fresh-faced, too green for the role of the world-weary spy. Despite his undeniable charm and potential, the role slipped through his fingers, handed instead to a more seasoned Daniel Craig.
Now, with Craig officially passing the torch, Cavill’s name has once again surfaced as a top contender for the role of 007. But this time, the situation is far more complex. The James Bond franchise is no longer in the hands of Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, but under Amazon’s control — a tech giant with big plans and even bigger expectations.
While Amazon is reportedly eyeing expansion, the shift has left many fans wondering whether the future of Bond and Cavill’s chance to finally take the role, is in jeopardy.
Broccoli’s frustration with Amazon’s overzealous attempts to alter the franchise has been well documented—even going so far as to call the Amazon executives “f**king idiots” in a private conversation (via The Wall Street Journal).
Now that Amazon has all the rights to Bond, the vision of 007’s future seems to be in flux. Proposed spin-offs, including a possible female 007, are talked about, which might reduce Cavill’s chances of playing the British spy on screen.
James Bond’s future in Amazon’s hands: Female 007 – A fresh take or misstep?
The James Bond franchise, once fiercely guarded by its longtime stewards, Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, has now found a new home with Amazon. The tech giant struck a deal when it acquired MGM for a jaw-dropping $8.5 billion (via Comic Book Movie). But what Amazon thought would be a smooth takeover quickly turned into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, with Wilson and Broccoli reluctant to let the spy world spiral into an endless maze of spin-offs and reboots.
Amazon, fresh off its massive acquisition, wasted no time flexing its creative muscles. The tech giant came to the table with a slew of ideas to expand the Bond universe, including a Moneypenny spin-off, a series centered around Felix Leiter, and, most controversially, a female 007 (via THR). But Broccoli and Wilson weren’t having it. The concept of a female Bond, in particular, was met with a firm no.
As the conversation continues, other figures have weighed in on the idea of a female Bond. Gemma Arterton, who appeared in Quantum of Solace, called the notion “outrageous,” drawing a comparison to casting a male Mary Poppins (via NY Times).
Daniel Craig, too, has voiced his reservations about a female Bond, suggesting that the right course is to simply create equally compelling roles for women – ones that stand on their own two feet without borrowing from Bond’s history.
Rachel Weisz, Craig’s wife, also pointed out that the original character was so meticulously crafted by Ian Fleming that it doesn’t make sense to replace him with a woman (via PEOPLE).
So, while it’s exciting (or terrifying, depending on how you look at it) to think about what’s next for 007, Amazon’s acquisition is bound to bring massive changes. It is tough to shake the feeling that the biggest issue isn’t whether Henry Cavill is cast as Bond or if we’re going to see a female 007—it’s whether Amazon will respect the soul of the franchise. The problem is the future of Bond itself.
James Bond movies are available on Amazon Prime Video.
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