Amazon backtracks after removing James Bond’s iconic gun from posters

Amazon Prime Video has reversed course after facing backlash for editing out James Bond's signature Walther PPK pistol from a series of promotional posters for classic 007 films. The altered images—initially uploaded to Prime Video's UK platform—showed the world's most famous spy striking familiar poses but without his trademark weapon, prompting an immediate outcry from fans who accused the company of unnecessary censorship.

Posters for Bond titles, including "Dr No", "GoldenEye", and "A View to a Kill" featured awkwardly reworked frames where the firearm was digitally erased. In one striking example, Roger Moore's arms appeared elongated to conceal the missing gun entirely. The edits quickly went viral, sparking ridicule and concern across social media, with users dubbing the new look "a disarmed Bond."

Writer Scott McCrea called the move "nothing less than cultural vandalism," while author John A Douglas reposted the altered artwork on X, writing, "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." Actor Rufus Jones joined in the criticism, joking that the new designs made Connery and Brosnan look as though "they think you're a wanker."

The controversy unfolded around October 5—officially marked as James Bond Day—an ironic twist given the franchise's celebration of its legacy that week. Instead of nostalgia, many fans accused Amazon of attempting to "sanitise" one of cinema's most enduring figures. Following the backlash, the streaming giant quietly restored the original artwork, though the replacement images still omit scenes of Bond holding a gun.

Amazon has not released an official statement, but reports from Deadline confirm the edited images were removed from its UK listings.

The incident comes as Amazon MGM Studios prepares for the next phase of the Bond franchise, with rumours that Denis Villeneuve may direct the upcoming instalment. For many fans, however, the episode raised deeper anxieties about the character's future. As one user remarked online, "Bond without his gun is like Batman without his cape — you've stripped away the very symbol of who he is."