Amazon Prime Video Removes James Bond’s Firearm from Artwork
Amazon Prime Video has removed the firearm from James Bond’s artwork after fans of the franchise noticed that 007 had been robbed of his gun in all pictures. The original artwork was replaced with stills from the Ian Fleming spy films over the weekend, following a backlash on social media that coincided with James Bond Day on October 5.
The Discovery
On Friday, some Bond fans in Great Britain discovered that special Prime Video artwork had been altered to remove the weapon. This included Sean Connery’s posters for "Dr. No." and Pierce Brosnan’s "Goldeneye," in which the firearm was literally removed from the original image.
Subtle Changes
Other posters in the series were more subtle in their alterations. The artwork for Roger Moore’s "A View to a Kill" seemed to have the actor’s arms extended so that his gun was out of the shot. In a poster for "Spectre," Daniel Craig’s weapon was cut out of the picture.
Fan Reaction
The writer Scott McCrea called the alterations "nothing less than cultural vandalism." Others argued that it was not a good sign of where the Bond franchise could be headed under Amazon MGM Studios, which recently installed Denis Villeneuve as the next 007 director.
The Meme Reaction
As with any internet curiosity, a meme soon followed. Brosnan’s weapon was replaced with a variety of different objects, some more printable than others. British actor Rufus Jones, known for his roles in "Rival" and "W1A," said the posters looked like Bond was about to make an offensive gesture.
The Aftermath
At the time of writing, Bond’s thumbnails in Prime Video UK now contain action shots from the films themselves, although they still don’t show Super Spy wielding a firearm. In one shot from "Skyfall," Craig’s weapon was again out of sight. The removal of the firearm from the artwork has sparked a heated debate among fans, with some seeing it as a form of censorship and others as a necessary step to make the franchise more appealing to a wider audience.
