Insiders say Lauren Sanchez now has a strong say in who will be the next actor to play James Bond. Sources claim that since Amazon took creative control of the Bond franchise, the internal power structure has shifted quietly but decisively. At the front of that change, insiders say, is Sanchez, the wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, whose personal taste now plays a key role in shaping the next era of James Bond.
Lauren Sanchez doesn’t want next James Bond to have ’emotional luggage,’ says source
As per Rob Shuter’s Naughty But Nice!, Lauren Sanchez plays a pivotal role in deciding who would be the next 007 in the upcoming Bond 26 film. “This is Lauren’s call now,” one insider alleged. “If she’s not feeling you, it’s done.”
According to multiple sources, Sanchez has a very specific vision for the next James Bond. “She wants someone who commands a room before he says a word,” an insider said. “Not someone who looks like he’s carrying emotional luggage.”
The decision about the next James Bond isn’t happening on social media or in public casting talks. It’s being decided by Lauren Sanchez. That vision reportedly rules out several fan-favourite names, including Jacob Elordi.
Although insiders acknowledge Elordi’s talent and rising profile, they insist he does not align with Sánchez’s idea of what Bond should be. “Once Lauren makes up her mind, the conversation is over,” one source claimed. “Buzz doesn’t matter. Awards don’t matter. The decision is already made.”
In 2022, Amazon acquired MGM, the studio behind the James Bond franchise, in an $8 billion deal. The acquisition granted Amazon creative control of MGM Studios while retaining longtime Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli in key roles overseeing the franchise.
Bond 26, directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Steven Knight, remains one of Hollywood’s most anticipated projects. The film has drawn heightened interest following Daniel Craig’s exit from the role of James Bond. Although headlines continue to speculate about the next actor to play 007, reports say attention has increasingly centered on Sánchez’s influence over the choice of the franchise’s new leading man.
Originally reported by Khushali Srivastava on Reality Tea.
