James Bond fans outraged by 'WOKE' Amazon decision to remove guns from film posters: 'Ridiculous - the guy is a SPY!'

The streaming service published modified posters on its UK website last week, removing 007's signature weapons from classic film artwork.

The alterations coincided with James Bond Day on October 5, drawing immediate attention from eagle-eyed fans who spotted the conspicuous absence of the spy's trademark pistol.

The backlash proved swift and unforgiving, with critics denouncing the modifications as an assault on the character's fundamental identity.

Much of the ire was expressed on X, where one film fan fumed: "Removing pistols from James Bond icons is woke as well as ridiculous."

A second echoed: "The woke mob is alive and well at Amazon. Editing the original Bond posters is totally ridiculous. The guy is a spy and he carries a gun."

Elsewhere, a third took action: "Just canceled Amazon Prime. Don’t ever photoshop the gun out of James Bond’s hand. That’s too woke. Besides, I never get a Prime package the next day anymore, it’s always promised and never delivered. F**k Amazon!!"

"It is absolutely certain that @amazon will f**k up the Bond franchise. They have already tried to woke it up, removing guns from ads," a fourth weighed in.

While a fifth fumed: "AMAZON, you’re being ridiculous removing the guns from Bond movies!! I’m thinking about canceling my Prime membership after more than 10 years! You’re getting too woke!!!"

And a sixth mocked: "I have a feeling @amazon version of James Bond is now going to be a woke activist starting 'mostly peaceful protests' inside MI6 about how they are systematically racist and oppressive. Gets romantic with a man pretending to be a woman and M is the new villain for his disapproval." (sic)

Amazon has since discreetly withdrawn the edited images, replacing them with alternative promotional materials, though the platform has steadfastly refused to address the controversy publicly.

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The digital modifications were particularly striking in their clumsiness. Sean Connery's pose in the Dr No poster was transformed into an awkward cross-armed stance after his pistol was removed, whilst Pierce Brosnan's GoldenEye artwork suffered similar treatment.

Roger Moore's image from A View to a Kill underwent perhaps the most bizarre alteration, with his arms digitally extended to crop the weapon from view.

Daniel Craig's hand was simply removed from the Spectre poster to eliminate his firearm.

While the doctored images have vanished, observers noted that none of the replacement stills feature Bond carrying a weapon.

The quiet reversal occurred without any acknowledgement or explanation from Amazon.

The incident has poured fuel onto the fire for those who already had existing anxieties about Amazon MGM's ownership of the beloved franchise.

Earlier this year, the American-owned company assumed complete creative control from long-standing producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of Eon Productions, who now remain merely as co-owners.

Denis Villeneuve has been appointed to direct the 26th Bond film, with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight penning the screenplay. The next instalment isn't expected before 2028.

This marks not the first controversy surrounding attempts to sanitise the Bond legacy.

Two years ago, plans emerged to republish Ian Fleming's novels with modifications to accommodate contemporary sensitivities, whilst the British Film Institute proposed content warnings before Bond film screenings.