The James Bond rumor mill is buzzing more than ever since Amazon took full creative control over the iconic 007 franchise. The speculation about who will don the tuxedo next continues unabated, but a recent report from the Mail on Sunday sheds some light on what fans can expect: James Bond will remain a man and will be British or from the Commonwealth, dashing hopes for non-traditional casting like Ryan Gosling.

Amazon’s internal memo, as reported by the Mail on Sunday, stipulates that under its tenure, 007 will not change gender or nationality. This news is likely to be welcomed by former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, who played the suave spy in "GoldenEye," "Tomorrow Never Dies," "The World Is Not Enough," and "Die Another Day" from 1995 to 2002. Brosnan himself affirmed to The Telegraph that Bond should be British, stating it as a given.

The Next James Bonds Who Never Played 007

26 ImagesWith the possibility of a Commonwealth actor, Australian star Chris Hemsworth's past interest in the role has resurfaced. In a 2019 interview with Balance magazine, Hemsworth expressed enthusiasm about playing Bond, especially after his role as British Formula One driver James Hunt in "Rush." He stated, "When we were shooting Rush someone had said that and I thought, 'Cool, if this is my audition tape, then great.' I don’t think you’ll ever meet anyone who doesn’t want to have a crack at James Bond. I’d love to do it. But that’s up to so many elements and is way beyond myself; it’s not one you can pitch yourself on to either. It’s something that the community of Bond fans, Barbara Broccoli and the whole crew there agree on, and it has to be a very organic decision from them. There have been a lot of names thrown out there and a lot of brilliant people can tackle that one."

Following the Mail on Sunday's report, Hemsworth's comments have gained new relevance, with The Today Show Australia confidently stating, "It's a surety. He is in."

Christopher Nolan had reportedly shown interest in directing a Bond film post-"Tenet," but Broccoli's insistence on retaining final cut control led to his rejection. Nolan went on to direct "Oppenheimer," which was a massive success, grossing nearly $1 billion globally and winning Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director.

Amazon's control over Bond has not been universally welcomed. When asked during a Reddit AMA if he would direct a Bond movie, the director of "Longlegs" and "The Monkey" responded emphatically, "No, because f**k Jeff Bezos."

Fans are eager to know who will step into Bond's shoes next. While names like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (who was previously rumored to be a top contender) have been floated, the fan-favorite appears to be Henry Cavill, known for his roles in "Superman" and "The Witcher."

Neither Amazon nor Eon Productions have issued a comment on the ongoing situation.