Amazon Prime Video has replaced images showing James Bond without his iconic firearm after fans voiced their concerns. This change follows backlash during James Bond Day on October 5.
Artwork Changes Spark Fan Outrage
Fans in the UK discovered that promotional images of Bond had omitted his gun, leading to significant criticism. The original artwork featured actors like Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan, with their guns removed from the images.
Some artwork changes were subtle. For example, in Roger Moore’s poster, his arms appeared elongated to keep the gun out of sight, while Daniel Craig’s image was cropped to exclude his weapon.
Criticism and Memes Emerge
Writer Scott McCrea described the artwork changes as “cultural vandalism.” Fans expressed concerns about the future direction of the Bond franchise under Amazon MGM Studios’ new director, Denis Villeneuve.
The alterations also inspired memes, with images of Bond’s gun replaced by various humorous objects. British actor Rufus Jones remarked that the posters seemed to suggest Bond was making an offensive gesture.
Current Thumbnail Changes on Prime Video
As of now, the Bond thumbnails on Prime Video UK display action shots from the films, but still do not portray Bond with a firearm, maintaining the trend of removing his weapon.
In one example, Craig’s gun remains cropped out of a popular still. This continues to raise questions about how the character of Bond will be portrayed moving forward.
