Nolan Rejected for Bond, Chose Oppenheimer

In a surprising turn of events, Amazon has assumed full creative control of the James Bond franchise, leading to the departure of longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. This shift has sparked a flurry of speculation about the future direction of the iconic series, including the possibility of a Bond TV series. However, according to Variety, a new Bond film remains Amazon's "top priority."

The next step for Amazon involves finding a new producer to steer the franchise. Reports suggest that David Heyman, known for his work on the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series, is the kind of visionary producer Amazon is seeking to bring a cohesive vision to the Bond films.

Adding to the intrigue, it has been revealed that acclaimed director Christopher Nolan expressed interest in directing a Bond film following his work on Tenet. However, his proposal was rebuffed by Broccoli, who was adamant about not granting any director "final cut" privileges while she was in charge. Nolan subsequently directed Oppenheimer, which achieved nearly $1 billion at the global box office and earned him the Best Picture and Best Director Oscars.

Fans are eagerly awaiting news on who will step into the iconic role of James Bond next. Speculation is rife, with names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson being floated. However, Henry Cavill, known for his roles as Superman and in The Witcher, appears to be the fan-favorite.

Amazon's ability to move forward with the Bond franchise hinges on finalizing its deal with Broccoli and Wilson, expected to close sometime this year. The transition has been described as fraught, with reports of an "ugly" stalemate between the Broccoli family and Amazon, leaving the future of Bond "on pause," according to the Wall Street Journal.

This power struggle emerged after Amazon acquired the rights to release Bond movies through its purchase of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for $8.45 billion in 2021. Neither Amazon nor Eon Productions have issued any official statements regarding these developments.

Who’d You Pick as the Next Bond?

• Henry Cavill
• Tom Hardy
• James McAvoy
• Michael Fassbender
• Aaron Taylor-Johnson
• Idris Elba
• Someone else (tell us who in the comments!)

AnswerSee Results