Amazon Prime Video faced criticism for altering promotional posters of classic James Bond films by removing the iconic Walther PPK pistol held by the spy. The edited images, initially seen on the UK platform, sparked backlash from fans who accused the company of unnecessary censorship.
Posters for Bond movies like “Dr No,” “GoldenEye,” and “A View to a Kill” were digitally altered to erase the firearm, resulting in awkwardly modified frames. One notable instance showed Roger Moore with elongated arms to cover the absence of the gun. The edits quickly spread on social media, leading to ridicule and concern, with users referring to the new look as “a disarmed Bond.”
Critics, including writer Scott McCrea and author John A Douglas, condemned the changes as “cultural vandalism.” Actor Rufus Jones also joined in, humorously commenting on the altered designs. The controversy coincided with James Bond Day on October 5, a time meant to celebrate the franchise’s history, yet many fans felt Amazon’s actions were an attempt to “sanitise” the character.
Following the outcry, Amazon quietly reverted to the original artwork, although the revised images still avoided showing Bond with a gun. While Amazon has not officially commented on the situation, reports indicate that the edited posters have been removed from the UK listings.
The incident occurred as Amazon MGM Studios gears up for the next chapter in the Bond series, with speculation that Denis Villeneuve might direct the upcoming film. However, for numerous fans, the incident raised concerns about the character’s essence. As one online user expressed, “Bond without his gun is like Batman without his cape — you’ve stripped away the very symbol of who he is.”