Amazon Prime Video has drawn sharp criticism after removing guns from promotional images of James Bond on its UK website, sparking outrage among fans and raising questions about creative integrity. The altered artwork, which featured iconic Bond scenes stripped of their signature weaponry, was quickly withdrawn following public backlash.
The controversy centered on digital thumbnails for films like Dr. No and Goldeneye, where Bond’s Walther PPK pistol was digitally removed. In A View to a Kill, Roger Moore’s arms were artificially extended to exclude the firearm. Fans condemned the edits as an overreach, with author John A. Douglas quipping, “They photoshopped all the guns out of the James Bond movie thumbnails. Just in case you still had hope for Amazon being in charge of the franchise.”
In response to the uproar, Prime Video UK replaced the altered images with unedited stills from the films. However, the platform has not publicly addressed the controversy. The incident has intensified concerns about the future direction of the James Bond franchise under Amazon’s ownership, particularly as a new film directed by Denis Villeneuve approaches.
The move aligns with broader criticisms of Amazon’s content policies, including its controversial 2024 series Queer fantasy, which reimagined King Edward VI with racially and sexually diverse traits. Despite initial acclaim from select critics, the show was canceled after one season due to low viewership.
