Amazon Reverses James Bond Poster Edits After Fan Backlash

Amazon Prime Video U.K. faced significant backlash after digitally removing guns from promotional images of the James Bond franchise, a move that many fans and critics saw as sanitizing a core element of the iconic character's identity. The altered posters, which included images of Roger Moore, Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig, were met with confusion and criticism for misrepresenting Bond's legacy, as his gun and the 'license to kill' are central to the franchise's imagery. In response to the outcry, Amazon removed the altered images and replaced them with film stills, which notably still excluded any depiction of Bond holding a weapon. This controversy has raised questions regarding Amazon's creative control of the franchise following their acquisition of MGM and the Bond rights from the Broccoli family. Fans expressed concern about the future direction of the series, especially with the upcoming 26th Bond film being produced under Amazon MGM Studios with Denis Villeneuve directing. Despite the backlash, Amazon has not publicly commented on the edits, leaving uncertainty about how the franchise will balance tradition with new stewardship.