Apple TV+ Has Made James Bond’s Rejected TV Show Plans Pointless For 3 Years

As much as Amazon may be inclined to turn James Bond into a TV star, Apple TV+ has been dominating the space by delivering the perfect spy drama with Slow Horses since 2022. James Bond has been an icon of the silver screen ever since 1962. And since then, he has remained a staple of the big screen.

However, Amazon recently purchased the rights to the franchise, which means the future of Bond could look very different. Already, Amazon has put forward several ideas for a Bond TV series, but this is highly unusual for the spy with a license to kill, and besides, there’s already a spectacular spy series filling the void.

Slow Horses Is The Perfect Modern-Day Spy Series

Slow Horses began streaming on Apple TV+ in 2022, and in the short three years since it debuted, they have already released five seasons. Aside from completely rejecting the new streaming standard of years-long gaps between seasons, the show is an incredible gritty espionage show set in the modern day.

With a team of underdog spies from MI5, the series takes a closer look at how these unlikely heroes manage to save the day and prevent disaster and destruction around the city of London and beyond. While a modern James Bond series would undoubtedly draw attention, it’s unlikely to hold up against Slow Horses’ intrigue and wit on the small screen.

Slow Horses’ Anti-James Bond Premise Is Much More Compelling Than Bringing 007 To TV

Courtesy: Apple TV+

The thing is, James Bond is a very different type of spy. He is suave, slick, and equipped with an arsenal of stunning tech and vehicles. And this kind of grandiose, over-the-type, excess works best in a big screen format where it can be realized to its fullest extent.

If Bond were to be adapted into a television series, even one with a sizable budget as Amazon has been prone to do for it’s big-IP shows like The Rings of Power, it wouldn’t hold up. Partially because that budget is stretched across dozens of hours, but also because TV doesn’t provide the same sense of grandeur as the cinema.

Meanwhile, Slow Horses tackles a much more grounded style of spycraft. There is a distinct lack of glitz and glamour with characters that are almost the opposite of James Bond, such as Jackson Lamb. And in some ways, this is what makes the series work.

When facing insurmountable odds, the team at Slough House has to put their wits together and solve puzzles to save the day. Whereas James Bond usually gets into an epic brawl and pulls out some fancy tech with the help of his numerous allies.

And even in the case of the suggested Bond spin-offs like a Moneypenny show, it needs to feel like it exists in the same world as Bond’s biggest blockbusters. Purely as an idea, a Bond TV show sounds interesting, but in practice, it’s likely to dilute the franchise as a whole.

Slow Horses Has Already Beat The Movies To Perfect James Bond Castings

Image via Apple TV+

Beyond Bond being poorly suited to a TV format, Slow Horses has already pulled in some top-tier talent to play characters that could have been perfect for Bond, whether on the big or small screen. Individuals like Hugo Weaving could have made an all-time greatest Bond villain.

Jack Lowden, who plays the prominent MI5 agent, River Cartwright, has also had his name frequently tied to fancasts for James Bond ever since taking on his role in Slow Horses. While actors are not usually exclusively tied to one series or franchise, playing the same type of character too often seems to be less common.

Essentially, a James Bond TV show would likely end up being compared to similar shows in the space, and in that way, Slow Horses’ impeccable casting could cast a shadow over the competition. Bond could likely get out from under it, but is it worth the risk?

James Bond’s New Era Makes A TV Show Less Likely Anytime Soon

However, it does seem as though Amazon’s plans for a James Bond show appear to be on the backburner. With Daniel Craig retired from his time as 007, and a new lead actively being cast, it’s time to rebuild. Breaking tradition before a new Bond is revealed would not be a good idea.

Amazon is clearly more inclined to establish a franchise, grow its popularity, and then expand from there, as has been seen with The Boys and spin-offs like Gen V and others in production, but with a massive IP like Bond, they are likely to play it safe. At least for now.

James Bond is certainly likely to move into previously unexplored territory with new leadership holding the reins, but the goal is still to have a successful franchise. Meanwhile, Slow Horses is ready and waiting to fill the gap for anyone who wants to see top-tier spy drama on the small screen.

Bond and Slow Horses don’t need to be pitted against one another, but considering how different they are, it makes sense to keep them both in their familiar spheres of influence. With Slow Horses knocking it out of the park on Apple TV+, and James Bond gearing up for his next major blockbuster, there’s plenty of success to go around.