Hollywood favourite set to take on iconic James Bond role in rumoured Amazon series

The James Bond franchise has capture fans across the globe for decades, with various British actors taking on the leading role of the hunky British spy.

But it appears as though one beloved character is getting their own spin-off show on Amazon Prime as viewers desperately wait for the new 007 to be confirmed by Hollywood execs.

Florence Pugh is reportedly poised to star in The Moneypenny Diaries as the iconic titular character. The agreement grants the streaming giant full control of future productions in the series, including launching spin-off projects.

The 29-year-old actress is set to be the first of many Bond-inspired shows produced by Amazon, according to The Sun. The blonde bombshell is set to play Miss Moneypenny, the secretary of Bond’s superior, M, and his on/off love interest.

The show will “most likely” be based on the book series of the same name by Samantha Weinberg under the pseudonym Kate Westbrook.

The Moneypenny Diaries, published from 2005 to 2008, follows the character across a trilogy of novels and two short stories – set during the 1950s and 60s era of Bond, portrayed by Sean Connery.

A TV insider told the outlet: “Depending on your point of view, having the story of such a loved character played by a top British actress is either a dream combination or a nightmare.”

Pugh would be joining an esteemed list of actresses who have played the infamous character – including Lois Maxwell, Caroline Bliss, Samantha Bond and mons recently Naomi Harris.

Yet, even if fans adore the reported casting choice, the insider added that the spin-off will likely feed into fears among Bond die-hard fans that the spin-off show will “diminish the purity of the British icon.”

They also observed that, as The Moneypenny Diaries features Bond himself as a character, the show would inevitably need to cast him.

If this was to happen, there could be multiple actors portraying Bond across various Amazon projects casting further chaos on the already competitive Bond race.

After striking the deal to gain creative control, the head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, Mike Hopkins, assured fans of the company’s commitment to the fictional spy’s legacy.

He said: “Since his theatrical introduction over 60 years ago, James Bond has been one of the most iconic characters in filmed entertainment”.

Hopkins expressed gratitude to Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman for bringing Bond to cinemas, and to Wilson and Barbara Broccoli for their “unyielding dedication” to the franchise.

He added that Amazon was “honoured to continue this treasured heritage” and looked forward to “using in the next phase” of 007.