Amazon Pulls James Bond Classic License to Kill, Proving Henry Cavill Shouldn’t Be the Next James Bond

Bond fans are heated again, and it all started with... posters. Yes, posters. Amazon quietly tweaked some classic 007 artwork on Prime Video UK, removing the guns from the famous Bond pose. That tiny change has turned into a bigger conversation about where this franchise is headed under the Amazon/MGM era — and whether someone like Henry Cavill should even want the job.

The poster dust-up, and why it hit a nerve

On Prime Video UK, several Bond posters were updated so the iconic 'gun in hand' stance vanished. It sounds minor, but for a character literally defined by a silhouette with a pistol, it was a loud choice. Fans took it as a signal that Amazon might try to sand down Bond’s rough edges — cue the word you will see a lot in comment sections: 'de-masculinization'.

Inside baseball note: streamers do sometimes alter poster art for platform standards or regional guidelines. But with Bond, the imagery is basically brand DNA, so people noticed — and they did not love it.

Who actually steers 007 right now

Quick clarity check: Eon Productions (Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson) still controls the creative direction of James Bond. Amazon owns MGM, which distributes and finances Bond films, and obviously has the platform. So if it feels like Amazon is 'in charge', that is the vibe fans have, especially after the poster swap — but the big creative decisions still run through Eon.

The 'female Bond' chatter and a possible Bond-verse

There have been recurring reports and opinion pieces pushing for the first female James Bond. Daniel Craig and Barbara Broccoli have both said they do not support making Bond female — the stance has been consistent: create new characters instead of changing Bond’s identity. Still, just the talk of it has fans wondering if Amazon would push the franchise in a different direction than the classic mold.

There is also chatter about building a broader 'cinematic universe' around 007, which is very un-Bond. Historically, these movies are self-contained event films, not a web of spin-offs. Whether that happens or not, the idea alone has some long-time fans feeling twitchy.

New rumor: Jacob Elordi in the 007 mix

The latest casting rumor says Amazon is keen on Jacob Elordi as the next James Bond. If you have only seen him in Saltburn or Euphoria, that might sound wild — he is in his late 20s, which is younger than the usual Bond launch age (typically late 30s to early 40s). If that rumor sticks, it probably shuts the door on Henry Cavill, who has long been in the fan-favorite conversation.

So... should Henry Cavill run toward Bond or away from it?

Here is where I land: Cavill might be better off staying deep in Warhammer 40,000. He is not just starring; he is shepherding that whole thing for Amazon, and he is notorious (in a good way) for guarding the source material. Warhammer lets him go full lorehound, build something from the ground up, and not fight decades of corporate legacy politics every time he wants to make a choice.

Bond, right now, looks like a tug-of-war between brand guardianship and modern platform optics. If the poster saga is a preview of future compromises, anyone stepping into 007 is going to face a lot of guardrails. Cavill thrives when he can actually steer.

• Fans flared up after Amazon removed guns from classic Bond posters on Prime Video UK.
• Talk keeps resurfacing about a female Bond and a possible 'Bond universe' — neither confirmed, both controversial with long-time fans.
• Eon still controls creative; Amazon/MGM handles financing/distribution and the platform side.
• Rumors say Jacob Elordi is being eyed for 007, which would skew younger than the usual Bond and likely nudge Henry Cavill out.
• Cavill has freedom and deep lore to work with on Amazon’s Warhammer 40,000; Bond would be a tighter box with bigger expectations.

If Amazon really is leaning younger and more brand-safe, that is a different 007 era than the one many people want to see. Maybe it works. Maybe it does not. But for Cavill, Warhammer feels like the better battlefield.

Would you actually want Cavill as Bond, or should he stick with the chainsword and never look back?

The 007 films are streaming on Prime Video in the US.