Helen Mirren raised some hackles this week by giving her take on James Bond. The veteran British actor is starring alongside former Bond Pierce Brosnan in Paramount Plus show MobLand, and didn’t mince words when she was quizzed on her thoughts about 007: “The whole series of James Bond, it was not my thing. It really wasn’t. I never liked James Bond. I never liked the way women were in James Bond.” 17372p

Mirren went on to say that Bond is “drenched” in “profound sexism” and argued that instead of trying to push for the character to be recast as a woman, producers should focus on telling the stories of real-life women in the history of espionage.

Now Pierce Brosnan himself has weighed in. As a highly regarded former Bond (we will overlook Die Another Day) he would ordinarily be expected to avoid hot-button conversations like these. However, taking a diplomatic tone, he said he doesn’t necessarily disagree with Mirren.

When asked by People if he thought Mirren was right, he responded “Yes, there’s a certain agreement there”, but clarified “there’s a certain world and room to move within the proscenium arch of what Ian Fleming put down. So there’s always going to be conflict.”

As early as the Timothy Dalton films it was generally accepted that Bond’s historical attitude to women wasn’t necessarily great. Brosnan’s movies tackled this, with M introducing him in GoldenEye as a “sexist, misogynist dinosaur” and the films generally pairing him with women who could hold their own against him. By the time of Daniel Craig, internal criticism of Bond’s sexism was practically baked into the writing, with Lashana Lynch’s Nomi even taking the “007” codename.

In a bit of inter-Bond bickering, Daniel Craig once took aim at Brosnan’s Bond in 2015, saying his take on the character wasn’t as “sexist and misogynist” as his. Brosnan defended his movies, saying that he “never thought of him like that” and that he was a “solitary, enigmatic character” that was “very ****ing lonely”.

It remains to be seen what Amazon will do with the character, but after seizing creative control amidst reported frustrations that a new Bond movie was taking too long to make, expect an unveiling of the next 007 very soon. Jeff Bezos, who’s recently been burnishing his anti-woke credentials by cozying up to Donald Trump, may want a more traditional take on the character, so we could see the resurrection of something akin to Sean Connery and Roger Moore. But for now, all we can do is wait and believe that “James Bond will Return”.

At long last, Nintendo fans finally have something to look forward to again. Yesterday saw the popular game company announce the much anticipated Switch 2 along with a roster of games that are bound to entice gamers from all walks of life. There’s plenty to be excited about when it comes to this new console, but here are some of the things that made us feel positively giddy.

10. The screen size m5o1l

While some say it doesn’t look too different from the original, the Switch 2 will be a huge upgrade in of both physical size as well as storage capacity. The new screen boasts an additional 1.7 inches in screen size going from 6.2 inches, to 7.9 inches on the Switch 2. Oh and it s 1080p and 120fps meaning the games on the new console are going to look pretty sharp too.

9. Cyberpunk 2077 5m571g

Sure the game is over four years old now, but the release was kind of botched by all the bugs and whatnot, nowadays it’s a polished and beloved game. The game’s release on the Switch 2 offers the perfect excuse for old players to delve back into the world of Cyberpunk while new players can experience it for the first time.

8. Deltarune Chapters 1-4 4e3o2y

Everybody loves this indie RPG series from the creator of Undertale. Including this in the roster of titles available upon release shows that the new console will continue to have a variety of games from big-budget AAA to smaller indie titles — this is exactly why the original Switch was so popular.

7. Elden Ring Tarnished Edition 4o353f

Speaking of big-budget AAA games, one of the most critically acclaimed games of the last few years will also be available on the Switch 2. The Tarnished Edition includes the base game and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion as well as new armor, weapons, and customization options.

6. The built-in GameChat feature 1l6j60

Previous Nintendo consoles have not been great for in-game ways of communicating. Don’t get me wrong, I loved PictoChat but to be able to speak to other players in online games would have been fun too. Well Nintendo are finally making that dream a reality with this brand new (to Nintendo) feature.

5. Split Fiction 3d4w68

There’s no doubt about it, Split Fiction became an instant classic upon its release earlier this year. So it makes sense to release it on the Switch 2 while it’s still fresh in people’s minds — the Switch has always been the kind of console you play with friends anyway so a co-op action adventure game is perfect for the console.

4. New James Bond game 25io

It’s been a while since we had a good James Bond game, but I’m still holding out hope that something will come along that brings bad the vibes GoldenEye brought to the Nintendo 64 back in the day. Could this new Bond game finally be the one to do it?

3. GameCube games 1z2q1y

It’s one of the most underrated Nintendo consoles but it had some of the best games. Wind Waker, Luigi’s Mansion, Pikmin, these are just a few of the many great games that were released on the GameCube, and now they’ll be available to play once more on the new console.

2. Mario Kart World 4b4ow

We’d almost lost hope that we’d ever see another Mario Kart game ever again, Mario Kart 8 released in 2014, that’s over ten years, almost as long as the wait between GTA V and GTA VI. But the wait is almost over as Mario Kart World will be a launch title on the Switch 2.

1. The release date 2f6s2u

The most exciting news is the release date and that’s because we don’t have long to wait at all. Nintendo announced that the Switch 2 will launch on June 5th, a little over two months from today. The fact that we’re so close to a new Nintendo console release is by far the most exciting news I’ve heard all year!

Amy Pascal, a veteran Hollywood producer whose credits include all three of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man films, is said to be “getting started” with work on the new James Bond film. 

News of the beloved spy film’s development was revealed at the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas on Wednesday. The reveal came courtesy of Amazon MGM, who made headlines in February when they gained full creative ownership of the James Bond franchise over longtime former owners, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. Speaking at the event, Amazon MGM executives Courtenay Valenti and Sue Kroll said Pascal and the team are “committed to honoring the legacy of this iconic character while bringing a fresh, exotic new chapter to audiences around the world.”

Amy Pascal and David Heyman are now starting work on the next James Bond movie.

Pascal produced the ‘Spider-Man’ films & Heyman produced the ‘Harry Potter’ films. pic.twitter.com/lI6ktGEBVs

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 3, 2025

Pascal, however, couldn’t attend the James Bond CinemaCon event, because she was “getting started” on producing the movie in London. Pascal ing the project, and news that the ball is rolling on production, means we’re bound to hear updates about the long-awaited James Bond, which had long been stalling some four years after the most recent installment, No Time To Die, arrived back in 2021. Pascal ed as a producer alongside Britain’s own David Heyman, whose credits are equally starry and include Padding and Harry Potter. 

Bond about to get that blockbuster treatment again

— Capitán (@SirTopiano) April 3, 2025

Since it’s been so long between James Bond outings, and given the fears that the franchise was doomed entirely, fans reacted excitedly to news of two veteran producers kicking the next film into high gear. “Expect web-slinging martinis and wand duels,” one X wrote in reference to Pascal and Heyman’s credits. Others said “Bond [is] about to get that blockbuster treatment again,” or predicted that the producing pair are “gonna create some magic with the new Bond movie.” 

expect web-slinging martinis and wand duels

— nox (@noxlonga) April 3, 2025

Even with this new development, however, one lingering question remains perpetually on the minds of fans — who is going to play James Bond? That question has plagued the franchise ever since Daniel Craig departed from the role in 2021, but Pascal’s producer hat grants the movie a wealth of leading men to choose from. In February, Amazon owner Jeff Bezos posed that very same question to his followers on X, with the resounding answer being Tom Hardy. 

Elsewhere, fans have long campaigned for Idris Elba to become the famous martini-drinking spy. Fellow fan-casts have named the likes of Henry Cavill, Challengers star Josh O’Connor, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, the latter of whom responded to speculation by saying he “love[s] slipping on a tuxedo.” Just as loud as the chatter around James Bond’s identity is the debate about whether the role should be gender-flipped. Just last week, actress Helen Mirren dismissed the idea of a female James Bond not because it would ruin the movie, but because she “never liked the way women were [portrayed] in James Bond.” 

Wherever they land (my pick is Taylor-Johnson, but I’m biased for heartthrobs), we can at least rest assured that the James Bond is out of in-development hell and moving full steam ahead. With all this chat of leading men, I’m feeling a little shaken (not stirred).

Rumors of James Bond being played by a woman have swirled around for decades, though it doesn’t appear there’s ever been an actual push to make them a reality. The closest the franchise has gotten is Lashana Lynch’s Nomi in No Time to Die, who was even awarded the “007” number after Bond’s retirement.

With Amazon set to shake up the franchise, the discussion about Bond’s possible future has reared its head once more, though his next incarnation is almost certainly going to be male. And, at least as far as screen legend Helen Mirren is concerned, that’s the way it should stay.

But unlike many, she’s not opposed to a female Bond because it’d ruin the character or because of tradition, it’s because Bond is historically too toxic a character to be genderbent on screen. Speaking to The Evening Standard, she was quizzed about her role in Paramount Plus show MobLand, in which former Bond Pierce Brosnan is her on-screen husband.

When asked her opinion of James Bond and his future under Jeff Bezos, Mirren was dismissive, saying she’s never been a Bond fan: “The whole series of James Bond, it was not my thing. It really wasn’t. I never liked James Bond. I never liked the way women were in James Bond.”

Mirren went on to dismiss the notion of a female Bond in favor of telling the stories of real women who worked in espionage:

“The whole concept of James Bond is drenched and born out of profound sexism. Women have always been a major and incredibly important part of the Secret Service, they always have been. And very brave. If you hear about what women did in the French Resistance, they’re amazingly, unbelievably courageous. So I would tell real stories about extraordinary women who’ve worked in that world.”

Despite the Amazon purchase, James Bond is currently on shaky ground. The next instalment doesn’t have a director, script, or lead actor and there’s a looming deadline of 2035, when all of Ian Fleming’s original novels will enter the public domain. This means any studio will be able to make a James Bond movie that adapts the books, but won’t be able to use elements introduced in the films like the gun barrel opening sequence or any of the music.

Even so, this must be lighting a fire under Amazon, which will be dead set on spending the next ten years wringing every drop of profit out of Bond. Expect the next movie to be fast-tracked, with spinoff TV shows almost certainly already in the pipeline.

Mr. Bond, we are expecting you — so please can you hurry up and get here already? The next take on Britain’s most famous spy got a major jolt in the arm last month when it was announced Amazon had wrestled full creative control over the James Bond franchise from old-school owners EON Productions, with real-life Blofeld Jeff Bezos wasting no time in turning the quest to find the new 007 into a crowdsourcing exercise.

This extremely internet-age approach to casting one of cinema’s most iconic roles left Bondian purists concerned Amazon was going to rip up the rulebook altogether and cast some wildly left-field choice in the part. Forget Henry Cavill and Tom Hardy, what about Timothée Chalamet as the young, American Bond we didn’t know we needed? Heck, sticking with the Dune cast, why not Zendaya? While there’s still no telling exactly who Amazon is thinking of to play 007 No. 7, at least we now know two ways in which the age of the Bezos Bond will stick with tradition.

Amazon confirms two things about James Bond that will never change v3u1a

According to the Daily Mail, Amazon has shared an internal memo with its staff which attempts to downplay any scurrilous stories swirling about how the company might be planning some wild things for Bond. In doing so, this reveals two defining traits that 007 will continue to possess despite his new corporate overlords.

“There have been so many erroneous rumours about the future of Bond,” the memo reads. “Amazon is committed to keeping the spirit of Bond alive and that means he has to be British or from the Commonwealth – and he has to be male.”

There are a lot of people who will be pleased about that first point – former 007 Pierce Brosnan himself included, as Daniel Craig’s predecessor recently told The Telegraph that Bond must not be an American in order to retain the core essence of the character. Similarly, the second stipulation should help former producer Barbara Broccoli — who relinquished control to Amazon after all things Bond had been in her family’s hands since 1962 — convince herself she did the right thing. Broccoli had always maintained that Bond had to be a man, despite increasing talk of a potential gender-flipped reimagining of the secret agent.

Clearly, Amazon understands that it’s the Britishness of Bond that is, ironically, what makes him such an internationally appealing protagonist. A female 007, meanwhile, could be an intriguing experiment one day, but given the backlash against the likes of Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor Who and Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel in recent years — for simply daring to be women leads in traditionally male-fronted franchises — Amazon was never going to potentially doom its reboot from the off with such a divisive decision.

So, there we have it. The next Bond will be a man and will come from somewhere in the Commonwealth, which means we can officially narrow down the contenders to about… 1.3 billion people. A number that is, coincidentally, roughly how much Amazon paid off the Broccolis with in order to get its hands on Bond. Not that the company needed another franchise in its pocket considering it domination of commerce across the world. But I guess the world was not enough.

When Amazon MGM Studios announced it had officially taken full creative control of the James Bond film series, the general mood among fans wasn’t one of shock but of t disappointment. Yet no one could properly articulate their feelings — until Daniel Craig stepped in to bid farewell to longtime co-producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.

As Jeff Bezos celebrated taking over yet another crown jewel of cinema — jokingly suggesting he’d let social media decide the next Bond (or at least, one would hope he was joking) — the mood in the Broccoli household was far less festive. Wilson and Broccoli, the siblings of late British producer Albert R. Broccoli, had overseen every creative decision since the early 1960s. Wilson announced he was stepping back from Hollywood, while Broccoli confirmed she was also leaving the Bond franchise but would continue producing other projects. She’s already faring well post-Bond, having worked on the 2022 biopic Till.

Craig released a public statement to Variety thanking the two for their stewardship. He first congratulated Wilson, saying, “I wish Michael a long, relaxing (and well-deserved) retirement.” For Broccoli, however, Craig made it clear he was always available to her, adding, “And whatever ventures Barbara goes on to do, I know they will be spectacular, and I hope I can be part of them.”

It’s unclear what ultimately ended the partnership between Amazon and the Broccolis, but where there’s smoke, there’s fire. The Wall Street Journal had already reported tensions between the two sides, with the Broccolis allegedly calling Amazon executives “idiots.” Broccoli was reportedly frustrated by Amazon’s insistence on referring to Bond as mere “content” and even less thrilled with its attempts to turn the property into a sprawling franchise — something apparently written into their contract’s fine print. In the end, Amazon had to choose between the Broccolis and franchising, and the outcome was always inevitable.

Perhaps the most revealing part of the WSJ article was how Amazon is now making creative decisions based purely on metrics — such as an actor’s past earnings in similar roles. Former Amazon executives itted this approach severely limited creativity and originality. And for a franchise like Bond, that’s vital.

What set Bond apart was its restraint — how little it revealed about its lead character, the way it selected its soundtracks, even how it titled its films. It was always considered a mark of class that “Bond” never even appeared in any of the titles. Everything the Broccolis did with the franchise felt distinctive. If they lose that, what’s left?

It seems that with Bezos’ announcement, the plan is to flood the market with remakes, origin stories, and every populist creative decision that looks good on paper — but could ultimately leave them with another lukewarm franchise like Citadel on their hands.

Ironically, even Daniel Craig was an unpopular choice when the Broccolis chose him — a decision that faced pushback from studio executives at the time. The Broccolis were a throwback to the old studio system, where producers drove creative decisions, championed new talent, and protected directors as they worked to find magic on set. Wherever Barbara Broccoli takes her talents next, neither we nor Craig can wait. But as for Bond, its future may also soon be decided by Instagram follower counts.

James Bond will return, but things will be very different behind the scenes when he does. Amazon MGM Studios has announced that it now has full creative control of the 007 franchise after long-time series producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson revealed they would be “stepping back.”

Uniquely when it comes to the major movie franchises, James Bond films have always been a family business. Legendary Hollywood producer Albert R. Broccoli was the brains behind the adventures of the super-spy (initially with partner Harry Saltzman before going it alone) from 1962 to 1989. From 1995’s GoldenEye onward, the job ed onto his children — daughter, Barbara Broccoli, and step-son, Michael G. Wilson.

“My life has been dedicated to maintaining and building upon the extraordinary legacy that was handed to Michael and me by our father, producer Cubby Broccoli,” Broccoli said in a statement following news of the Amazon deal. “I have had the honor of working closely with four of the tremendously talented actors who have played 007 and thousands of wonderful artists within the industry. With the conclusion of No Time to Die and Michael retiring from the films, I feel it is time to focus on my other projects.”

The Broccolis have been known for their close quality control over the Bond brand over the past three decades, having previously vetoed all kinds of spin-off and TV show pitches, so now that Amazon has the keys to the Aston Martin without them around all bets are off when it comes to what’s next for the IP.

So protective of Bond was Barbara that reports say her friends are “gobsmacked” that she would ever cede control to Amazon like this. It must’ve been an “emotional decision,” one source told Deadline. “She’s a fighter,” they said. “But she got tired of fighting.”

How much did Amazon pay Barbara Broccoli for creative control of James Bond? 1p433b

In other words, it sounds like Amazon made Barbara an offer she couldn’t refuse. Broccoli is believed to have had a net worth of circa $400 million by the start of 2025, thanks to her enormous success in the filmmaking industry, but that may well have just more than doubled thanks to her deal with Amazon.

According to Deadline, it’s believed that Jeff Bezos’ company coughed up a total of $1 billion in order to persuade the Broccolis to fork over creative control to the Bond brand. Obviously, it’s unlikely to be a simple 50/50 between the two siblings, but if this enormous figure is accurate then Barbara’s net worth could now be somewhere around $900 million. Even if she was ionate about keeping 007 in the family, it’s hard to begrudge her accepting an offer big enough to leave Auric Goldfinger salivating.

Daniel Craig has offered his for the Broccolis amid their stepping back from Bond. “My respect, iration and love for Barbara and Michael remain constant and undiminished,” he said. “I wish Michael a long, relaxing (and well deserved) retirement and whatever ventures Barbara goes on to do, I know they will be spectacular and I hope I can be part of them.”

The Knives Out actor’s comments seem to back up those rumors that Broccoli is looking to make an adaptation of Othello starring Craig. She is also working on a remake of another Ian Fleming creation, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. In the meantime, Broccoli can likely be found swimming in a bank vault full of money, à la Scrooge McDuck.

James Bond’s future just got a major shake-up, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is making sure fans have a say in the franchise’s new direction. With Amazon MGM Studios taking creative control of the legendary franchise, Bezos posed a simple question to his millions of followers on X: “Who’d you pick as the next Bond?”

Who’d you pick as the next Bond? pic.twitter.com/u7nBaRROlf

— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) February 20, 2025

Within hours, plenty of names were thrown into the mix. However, the majority delivered a resounding answer that it should be Tom Hardy. Henry Cavill was close second. “Henry Cavill is great, but Tom Hardy is my vote for James Bond,” one fan declared. Another wrote, “I think it may only be Tom Hardy that’s going to make me watch a James Bond movie.” A different quipped, “Henry Cavill is the only choice to heal the world and the franchise.”

Both Hardy, 47, and Cavill, 41, are no strangers to action-packed roles, but Hardy seems to have the edge when it comes to embodying intense, unpredictable characters.

Hardy’s resume is stacked with physically demanding, chameleonic performances. He has played the lone drifter Max Rockatansky in Mad Max: Fury Road, the dual-personality anti-hero Eddie Brock in Venom, and the unhinged, real-life criminal Charles Bronson in Bronson. He’s even taken on the Star Trek universe as the sinister Praetor Shinzon in Nemesis. He will next appear as a detective battling the criminal underworld in Netflix’s Havoc.

Henry Cavill is great but Tom Hardy is my vote for James Bond pic.twitter.com/WVWTkzqTzr

— Melonie Mac (@MelonieMac) February 20, 2025

Cavill, meanwhile, has long been a fan-favorite for Bond, thanks to his suave portrayal of superspy Napoleon Solo in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and his action chops in Mission: Impossible – Fallout. But despite his overwhelming qualifications, Hardy’s grittier, rough-around-the-edges persona may be what wins him the role in the eyes of many social media s.

While Hardy and Cavill dominated the poll, other actors got honorable mentions, including Michael B. Jordan, Matthew Goode, Chris Pratt, Chris Hemsworth, Michael Fassbender, and James McAvoy. And, of course, the internet being the internet, some s jokingly suggested Elon Musk take up the tuxedo and Walther PPK for the big screen.

Moments before Bezos asked the important question, Amazon announced that the famous spy series is undergoing a seismic shift after Daniel Craig ended his run as Bond in 2021’s No Time To Die. In a deal that rewrites the franchise’s future, Amazon MGM Studios has formed a new t venture with longtime franchise gatekeepers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. While Wilson and Broccoli remain co-owners of the six-decade-old property, Amazon now holds the ultimate creative power over the superspy’s next releases.

This follows Amazon’s $8.5 billion acquisition of MGM in 2022, which gave the tech giant control over an expansive catalog of more than 4,000 films and 17,000 TV shows, including every Bond movie to date. Now, Amazon isn’t just distributing Bond films. It is also shaping the future of the well-loved spy series.

The Broccoli family has long been the guardian of the Bond legacy, with Albert “Cubby” Broccoli first bringing Ian Fleming’s super-spy to the big screen in Dr. No (1962). Since then, Barbara and Wilson have carefully controlled the franchise by overseeing its evolution across six decades.

But with Amazon now holding creative control, the franchise is on the brink of its biggest transformation yet. As Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, put it in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter: “We are honored to continue this treasured heritage and look forward to ushering in the next phase of the legendary 007 for audiences around the world.”

With Bond’s future in Amazon’s hands, the next 007 will be a game-changer in the series. Now, we’ll just have to wait and see if Bezos will listen to who fans want to see next portraying the iconic role.

James Bond fans have dying for the next movie starring the super-spy to get off the ground, following Daniel Craig’s tenure in the tux ending back in 2021, but now they’re screaming “not like this! Not like this!” after a shocking development has left the 007 brand shaken and stirred.

As per Variety, Amazon MGM Studios has officially taken full creative control of the James Bond franchise. This is a huge deal because, although Amazon previously acquired the rights to both Bond’s back catalog and to make future movies in 2022, long-time series custodians Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson were careful to retain their power. Now, however, Broccoli and Wilson are “stepping back,” although they will remain t co-owners of the IP with Amazon.

This marks the first time in the 63-year-old film franchise’s history in which it has been studio-controlled. Producers Harry Saltzman and Albert “Cubby” Broccoli originally steered the ship through the 1960s and 70s before Broccoli went it alone until 1989’s License to Kill. Ever since 1995’s GoldenEye, his daughter, Barbara, and step-son, Wilson, have ensured it remained a family business and the pair have always had key creative input (similar to Kevin Feige with Marvel Studios).

We first found out the Broccolis and Amazon were clashing when an eyebrow-raising exposé from the Wall Street Journal alleged that relations between the two parties had broken down, with Barbara Broccoli apparently telling her friends that Amazon execs were “f—ing idiots.” She was also noted to have been offended by their use of the word “content” to describe Bond films and one exec telling her that he didn’t think Bond was a hero.

Given that this WSJ piece, which now appears to have been proven entirely accurate, didn’t exactly cast Amazon as having the right approach to the franchise, the news that the studio now has full control over the character is leaving many fans more heartbroken than when they watched the final act of No Time to Die. With Jeff Bezos being among the closest real-life analogs to a Bond villain we have, to some this has the distinct whiff of James Bond going to work for SPECTRE.

“This is terrible news because Barbara was the only one who was keeping Amazon away from turning 007 into a cinematic universe,” one tweeter lamented. “Based on Amazon’s track record with property’s, absolutely no good will come of this,” another warned. “From 007 to just plain 000,” someone else quipped.

Others are at least slightly more open to the Amazon era of Bond, so long as they stick to what works. “They better still make movies for the cinema, James Bond should not be straight to streaming,” went one demand. Others are just glad it’s not Netflix: “I’m WAY more relieved that Bond is at Amazon. If it were Netflix THEN I’d worry.” Clearly this person hasn’t seen how Amazon has handled Lord of the Rings…

The one upside to all this? Amazon is extremely unlikely to waste this golden goose — or gun — for long so we could well have a new Bond by the end of the year. And if all fans want is more 007 “content” then we’re bound to have various spin-offs, TV shows, and the like coming out of Blofeld Bezos calling the shots. Will fans soon be convinced that nobody does it better? Or is this the sky about to fall on the franchise’s quality for good?

After seeming to not have much fun in the last couple of movies, Daniel Craig is done as James Bond. He is hanging up the clever gadgets and the license to kill and walking off into the sunset. This means a slew of actors are vying for their chance to only die twice.

A new name has now bubbled to the top of the Hollywood cauldron where directors, writers, and actors are all mixed together into interesting stews, then smeared across the silver screen in an effort to get the public to sit in dark rooms for two hours.

Prince Charles.

Not the real one, of course, a fake one. THE fake one, I guess. Josh O’Connor, who portrayed then Prince, now King, Charles in The Crown is seemingly tipped for a big reveal as the new 007.

The 34-year-old actor is the right age to take on the role and could manage an easy 15-year run of Bond movies were he to get the part. He also sits in just the right area of fame for a Bond film. Long-time producer Barbara Brocolli is fond of casting actors who have proven they have the chops and the charm but have yet to really stamp themselves into the public consciousness, and he would certainly fit that bill.

It also hints at a potential shift in the portrayal of Bond. Much the same way that Craig’s era ushered in a dash of gritty realism, the next Bond may be asked to put a new spin on the spy that is more appealing to audiences who are under assault from an array of superhero movies or spy movies where the main characters are dangerously close to superhuman (Sorry, Mr. Cruise).

The art of spycraft isn’t featured too much in spy movies these days, and while it wouldn’t make much sense to limit the fisticuffs or chase scenes that James Bond films are known for, a dash of the quiet tension of something like a Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy certainly wouldn’t hurt.

O’Connor recently enjoyed success alongside Zendaya and Mike Faist in Challengers and is frankly the first name in a while that has been connected to Bond that feels both plausible and hints that they might be aiming to do something that isn’t just Daniel Craig-lite.

Spy films feel like they are in a difficult place right now as the genre tries to figure out what they are trying to do. The last seismic shakeup the genre went through was The Bourne Identity in 2002 making a mockery of Die Another Day, which was released the same year. Daniel Craig would arrive to bring the grit to Bond four years later.

So, while O’Connor might not seem like the obvious next Bond, I find myself excited at the possibilities of what his casting might mean for the long-running series because a repeat of what the previous iterations of 007 brought to the table is definitely not what the audience is looking for.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson is long rumored to be the new James Bond, and while the film franchise’s producer Barbara Broccoli has yet to confirm his casting, the actor didn’t exactly say no when quizzed about the role in a recent interview.

Taylor-Johnson was subtle in his response to the question during one of his promotional interviews for Kraven the Hunter. In an appearance on Good Morning America, host Michael Strahan tricked him into confirming the speculations about being the new James Bond, when he asked the actor if he would want to slip on Agent 007’s tuxedo.

“There’s been a lot of speculation about the next 007. Would you slip on the tuxedo, if asked?” Strahan asked to which Taylor Johnson replied, “I love slipping on a tuxedo.” When prodded “to play 007?” the actor took a moment to respond. Then he cheekily smiled and said to the camera: “Do you know what… I wear a tuxedo in this [film, Kraven the Hunter]. You should come see this movie. Honestly, it’s got a ton of action and it’s a thrill ride honestly.”

It might not sound like much, but his response — and the way he appeared almost caught red-handed — was his most telling response to date.

Taylor-Johnson was also recently asked about the James Bond role during a red carpet interview with Entertainment Tonight at the New York premiere of Kraven the Hunter. The interviewer asked: “Another character everyone is dying to see you as is Bond. What do you make of that suggestion that fans have?“

Looking amused, the 34-year-old English actor refused to give a direct answer and said instead: “I would say come see Kraven because that’s what’s out this weekend and it’s not going to disappoint. I promise you that, guys.“

This has been a typical response from the Kick-Ass star who has been avoiding the question ever since becoming the bookies’ bet to take over the role from Daniel Craig. As early as August 2023, he said: “It’s not really for me to say anything. I’ve spent two years making Kraven. So all that hard work we put into trying to get that to where it is — that’s where I’m at right now.”

When asked if it’s exciting to even consider being James Bond, he replied: “I just focus on the things I can have in my hands right now. What’s in front of me right now.” Interestingly, during this exchange no one mentioned the word “James Bond” and the actor never shut down the speculations.

Then in March this year, rumors spread that he’s already booked the role after an impressive secret audition for Broccoli in 2022. A source claimed: “Bond is Aaron’s job, should he wish to accept it. The formal offer is on the table and they are waiting to hear back. As far as Eon (Productions) is concerned, Aaron is going to sign his contract in the coming days and they can start preparing for the big announcement.”

However, a production insider quickly shut down the claims saying there’s “no truth” in it. But Taylor-Johnson keeps getting asked the question because he hasn’t actually denied the speculations as he said: “I can only really talk about the things I’m going to show and tell.”

Broccoli said the new James Bond actor should be someone whose in his 30s, who isn’t necessarily white, and that he should be committed to at least a “decade’s worth of films.” Aside from Taylor-Johnson, other actors rumored to be in the running for the role include Richard Madden, 38 (Citadel) and Regé-Jean Page, 38 (Bridgerton).

James Bond has wowed audiences for decades, but should a female version of this iconic character ever exist? One actress doesn’t think so… and some big names agree with her.

Gemma Arterton, who portrayed Strawberry Fields in the 22nd Bond movie Quantum of Solace, said that James Bond should stay a man. She said: “Isn’t a female James Bond like Mary Poppins being played by a man?” She added, “people would find it too outrageous” and “Sometimes you just have to respect the tradition.”

I wouldn’t have a problem with a new Mary Poppins portrayed by a male actor. That actually sounds kind of fun. But it turns out a lot of people think the same way as Arterton. This lengthy Bond debate has been going on for a few years. Gregory Ratoff thought that Susan Hayward could play Bond in Casino Royale. But Ratoff just thought about this casually and hoped that Richard Burton would say yes, which didn’t happen.

Big surprise here, Piers Morgan is bent out of shape about the whole thing. As he put it in his column for The Daily Mail, “create your own bloody spies, ladies.” Alright, Piers, settle down. He added, “the woke brigade will ruin everything that’s good or fun in life.” I’m not even going to touch that one.

It’s hard not to find this inherently sexist and ridiculous. What’s the big deal with a female James Bond? Why not let an actress put their stamp on the beloved franchise? There’s absolutely no reason why a smart, strong woman can’t star in a new entry, hopefully with her own signature cocktail (but not a pink, stereotypically girly one, thanks).

But there is the argument that a female Bond is unnecessary and a terrible idea. As the great Jenna Ortega said in an interview with MTV, “we should have our own” character. She explained, “I don’t want to see like ‘Jamie Bond.” She makes a fair point! Simply putting an actress in this famous role without creating a new, compelling, and memorable character feels like a missed opportunity. Wait, what if Ortega played Wednesday Addams in a new action movie? That feels right.

What does Daniel Craig himself think? He told Radio Times, “Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?”

What if there is a female James Bond and new, interesting, meaty roles for women in action movies and other genres? It seems like every day, this same debate rages on online. Every time there’s a fresh Marvel project, people complain that the actors don’t line up with their vision, and there are some problematic racist and sexist comments. Being totally against the idea of a woman taking on 007 just feels wrong. But then again, I’m not sure that this will actually happen.

So let’s just keep actually going to the movies instead of being tempted to always wait for movies to come to streaming services and the work of talented and creative storytellers. There’s no safe bet at the casino royale on who will play the next James Bond. But let’s all take a quantum of solace for now and realize a female Bond wouldn’t make the sky fall.