Bond to remain male as Amazon MGM reshapes the franchise

The next actor to play James Bond is expected to be a man, according to prominent figures closely associated with the franchise, even as the series undergoes a major corporate and creative shake-up. In recent interviews, Pierce Brosnan — who portrayed 007 in four films from GoldenEye (1995) to Die Another Day (2002) — and Dame Helen Mirren, who stars with Brosnan in the forthcoming Thursday Murder Club adaptation, voiced the same view: Bond must remain male. The comments come as Amazon MGM Studios takes creative control of the long-running franchise, with Denis Villeneuve lined up to direct the next film and Steven Knight tasked with writing the screenplay.

Brosnan, speaking during promotional duties for The Thursday Murder Club, offered a pointed reminder to the actor who will inherit the tuxedo: be bold, enjoy it, and know yourself. He underscored the life-changing nature of the role, saying that whoever lands Bond will find the experience transformative and that the character’s enduring appeal is a gift that keeps giving. While praising the franchise’s history and the opportunities ahead, Brosnan affirmed his belief that the next Bond should be a man, while wishing the...