Here’s a nice thought: what if the James Bond franchise, which Amazon reportedly just paid in the neighborhood of $1 billion for control of, was handled with care? This is what former 007 Pierce Brosnan is hoping for, as he expresses in a new interview with The Telegraph. And one way they can respect that character is to not make him American.

Former James Bond Pierce Brosnan says the next 007 must be British as Amazon MGM Studios take control over the historic franchise. Brosnan spoke to The Telegraph, saying that it’s “a given” that a British actor should take up the 007 mantle.

Actor Pierce Brosnan has said it is a "given" that the next James Bond should be British. In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, the former Bond also said he thought it was the "right decision" for the franchise's long-standing producers to hand creative control to Amazon.