Recap: Reinventing Bond—Nolan Next, Brosnan Now
Why Amazon should think big—and play the long game—with the world’s most iconic spy.
It’s been a demanding week—ERP planning, state budget negotiations, team check-ins, and yes, a few Honors Week events sprinkled in. With so much intensity, I wanted to shift gears in this week’s recap and focus on something different: the future of James Bond.
Anyone who knows me knows I’m a lifelong James Bond fan. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is my personal favorite—a film so visually stunning and memorable that my family once detoured while traveling in Switzerland just to visit Piz Gloria, the mountaintop location of the film’s iconic climax.
With Amazon now holding the keys to the Bond franchise, the moment is ripe to reimagine 007 for a new era. But instead of rushing a reboot, the smartest move is to split the strategy: one nostalgic sendoff, followed by a prestige-level reinvention.
Why it matters
Bond isn’t just a movie franchise—it’s a global cultural artifact. Every reinvention shapes how the world sees masculinity, geopolitics, and British identity. Mishandle it, and you risk turning the world’s coolest spy into a corporate content algorithm. Get it right, and you create the next great cinematic era.
The Long Game: Go Prestige with Christopher Nolan
Amazon should lock in Christopher Nolan for a three-picture directing deal—plus two more as producer. Let him reboot Bond in the 1960s Cold War, where the character belongs. Nolan has already hinted at his interest, and his affinity for practical effects, historical sweep, and moral complexity is tailor-made for a grounded, high-stakes Bond era.
Think Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy meets Tenet—spycraft, loyalty, and nuclear dread.
Set in the ‘60s, a reboot avoids the baggage of the modern Bond while keeping political stakes high.
Nolan can bring gravity without grimness—a return to Bond as a professional, not a superhero.
The casting solution: Bring in Aaron Taylor-Johnson. He’s already been floated by fans and insiders, and while not an A-list megastar, he brings the right physicality and subtle charisma—a capable everyman who could evolve over multiple films.
The Short-Term Move: Give Brosnan His Swan Song
While Nolan finishes his adaptation of The Odyssey, Amazon can give audiences a Bond gift they didn’t know they needed: a nostalgic remake of Never Say Never Again, with Pierce Brosnan returning for one final mission.
Never Say Never Again is already a remake of Thunderball—ripe for reimagining again, especially with modern production values.
Brosnan, still suave and commanding, deserves a Logan-style final outing—world-weary, clever, dangerous.
Bring back Christoph Waltz as Blofeld for continuity and gravitas.
Keep the same MI6 bench: Ralph Fiennes as M, Ben Whishaw as Q, Rory Kinnear as Tanner. This preserves the connective tissue while recasting the emotional stakes.
Why this works
This two-track approach satisfies both urgency and ambition.
Immediate payoff: Bond fans get a sleek, emotionally resonant sendoff with Brosnan—a tribute to legacy and a bridge to what’s next.
Long-term vision: Nolan anchors a new era, grounded in history, rich in character, and cinematic in a way few franchises are willing to be.
Commercial and critical upside: Brosnan’s return pulls in longtime fans. Nolan’s involvement ensures global prestige and artistic excellence.
The bottom line
Bond has always evolved by reflecting the times—but the most enduring versions do more than keep up. They redefine cool, reframe geopolitics, and reset the culture.
A smart, two-tiered strategy—Brosnan now, Nolan next—gives Amazon the chance to honor the past and shape the future.