Over the years, Jeff Bezos has undergone a rather striking evolution — physically, mentally, and culturally. Once a pale, nerdy book salesman, he has transformed into “Buff Bezos,” a figure emblematic of discipline and reinvention. Today, his biceps are as talked about as his business acumen. The 61-year-old’s journey from tech mogul to cultural power player is hard to ignore. As Amazon ditches its DEI baggage for a no-nonsense approach, some (mostly me) are calling him “Based Bezos” — a billionaire reshaping his image in an era where appeasement is out, and backbone is back in.

Now, Bezos appears to have set his sights on something far more terrestrial yet culturally monumental: saving James Bond. With Amazon’s acquisition of MGM — and, by extension, the 007 franchise — he has thrown his hat into the cinematic ring. His recent social media post, casually asking, “Who’d you pick as the next Bond?” might seem like simple clickbait. But a less cynical observer might call it a calculated move to shape the future of one of cinema’s most iconic — and increasingly faltering — franchises.
Once synonymous with sophistication, danger, and a dash of debonair arrogance, James Bond has, for decades, been the embodiment of a certain kind of masculine ideal. Created by Ian Fleming in the 1950s, Bond was envisioned as a cold, efficient killer with a taste for fine suits, fast cars, and even faster women — a man whose charm was matched only by his lethal skillset.
Throughout the decades, Bond evolved, reflecting the times without surrendering the core ingredients that defined him. Sean Connery’s Bond was cool and commanding, Roger Moore’s iteration brought a touch of humor and old-school British camp, and Timothy Dalton returned the character to Fleming’s grittier roots. Pierce Brosnan’s era balanced suaveness with blockbuster appeal, catering to ‘90s audiences craving both sharp wit and relentless action — a Bond with a dash of John McClane. Brosnan’s character was the perfect hyb...