Creative control over the future of James Bond has been handed over to Amazon in ‘a new joint venture’.
Amazon Studios officially purchased MGM for $8.45billion (£6.7billion) in 2022 and with it came a stake in the beloved franchise.
A new agreement over creative control means Bond — and whoever is next to play the martini-drinking spy — is about to be thoroughly shaken, not stirred.
This is scary news for many fans given the creative direction of the films has been overseen by family-run Eon Productions since 007 first came to the silver screen.
The company was founded by acclaimed Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli and is now owned by his children, Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson.
While this huge deal does not mean the legacy producers will step away entirely and leave MI6 in the hands of big studio bosses, there are bound to be some changes.
This deal has been rumbling away behind the scenes for a while now, with creative control looking unlikely for Amazon for a while.
The studio now owns 50% of the franchise, with Barbara, 64, and Michael, 83, maintaining co-ownership status.
However, creative decisions have been handed over as the siblings look to other projects and Michael takes a step back from filmmaking into retirement.
What has Barbara Broccoli said about Amazon?
Previously, this move seemed unimaginable as Barbara shared some cutting thoughts on Amazon’s creative direction.
In December, a report in the Wall Street Journal, pointed at growing tensions as the producer believed she could ‘hold Bond hostage from Amazon for as long as she sees fit’.
The report claimed she didn’t see the studio as a good fit and she was quoted saying: ‘Don’t have temporary people make permanent decisions’ — something her father once said.
She allegedly also called them ‘idiots’ and pushed back against the expansion plans for spin-offs and TV shows.
However, that all seems to be water under the bridge now as she said in the announcement: ‘My life has been dedicated to maintaining and building upon the extraordinary legacy that was handed to Michael and me by our father, producer Cubby Broccoli.
‘I have had the honour of working closely with four of the tremendously talented actors who have played 007 and thousands of wonderful artists within the industry.
‘With the conclusion of No Time to Die and Michael retiring from the films, I feel it is time to focus on my other projects.’
Does this mean a Bond extended universe?
The big question on everyone’s mind — other than who will be 007 — is what exactly does Amazon plan to do with Bond now?
Judging by the previous reports on Barbara’s alleged disagreements, Amazon is hoping to squeeze the franchise with possible prequels, sequels and spin-offs.
Fans are well accustomed by now to the studios churning out endless reboots and connected projects, for better or worse.
Amazon could be looking at a prequel TV series, having proved successful already with Lord of the Rings’ show Rings of Power.
Or could we see our female 007, Lashana Lynch, take off on her own adventures in either a parallel film series or TV show?
As pointed out by Marina Hyde on The Rest is Entertainment podcast, the literary side of Bond has already been widely expanded into comic books.
Amazon was reportedly pushing for this on the visual side of the property, including a Moneypenny spin-off according to Marina.
‘[Barbara] doesn’t want a James Bond cinematic universe like Marvel because look at that,’ co-host Richard Osman replied.
He continued: ‘If this was owned purely by Amazon or owned by a venture capital firm, there is an alternative universe in which every three years there’s a Bond movie, but in between there is a spinoff series every single year.
‘It would be absolutely non-stop. There’d be a Q spinoff. I mean, it’s almost endless the things that you could do with this.’
Marina shared: ‘I think almost the crucial quality of Bond in so many ways is that he is elusive and he leaves us wanting more. You never find out everything about him.
‘And so, in a way, you never know quite how he’ll return. We’re not saturated in him. People always want more of him, even his bosses or the women he sleeps with or whatever it is.’
She added: ‘Barbara’s stewardship of the character is at one with the character, is that she tries to sort of to not saturate us in him.’
What fans think about a 007 expansion
James Bond is more than just a character for many fans, he’s a cultural touchstone and an icon of British film backed by a 60-year legacy.
The potential spin-offs come at a time when media has become deeply oversaturated with sequels and prequels, something that Bond has largely managed to dodge so far.
Since Sean Connery’s exit in 1967, 007 has a built-in reset with the main actor being re-cast every few years to allow for fresh stories and a fresh perspective.
However, that has not made fans more open to the upcoming overhaul of the prestigious brand — especially after bosses reportedly called Bond ‘content’ in one meeting.
Users on Reddit voiced concerns, with Clynester writing: ‘It definitely doesn’t bode well. Incoming spin-off movies, TV shows and as much s**t as Amazon can milk the series for. At least we had a good run.’
‘Worst case scenario. Bond being killed off in NTTD feels a lot more appropriate now,’ said Welles_Bells.
DoodleDew joked: ‘Your new Amazon series, “Moneypenny!” coming this fall! Did you know she wasn’t always a secretary? She used to be a badass cig smoking fighting spy! Only on Amazon Prime!’
‘Concerning,’ wrote Pow67. ‘Part of the reason I like Bond movies is they don’t come around that often so when they do release, it feels a bit like an event.
‘Now it’ll be overexposure on steroids and we’ll get a 007 “universe” movie/TV show every year like the MCU I fear.’
Analysis from Metro’s film expert Tori Brazier
The news that Amazon MGM Studios now has creative control over the James Bond franchise, so lovingly cared for by the Broccoli family via Eon Productions for over 60 years, promises a seismic shift for its future – and it’s not one I see positively.
After all, we all know Amazon is likely to exploit its new crown jewel to the max, in all the ways it couldn’t before – we’re talking spin-offs and sequels as well as branded shopping bags and toilet paper. Bond’s cinematic image has been so carefully protected for decades, with its studio Eon understanding that scarcity creates hype, and quality should always win out over quantity. And if Bond is promoting anything, it’s luxury watches and Aston Martins.
You can’t doubt the efforts that have gone into making 007 films, and even if every decision hasn’t been perfect, they’ve always tried to (eventually) move with the times. We’ve had 50-year-old Bond girl Monica Bellucci on Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson’s watch, as well as Black 007 Lashana Lynch in No Time To Die, Dame Judi Dench’s M scolding Pierce Brosnan’s Bond as ‘a sexist, misogynist dinosaur’ – and the introduction of one of the franchise’s greatest successes, Daniel Craig in the role.
Since his retirement in 2021, fans have been chomping at the bit for updates on the next actor to be cast and the next film – the three-and-a-half-years of silence and this recent news suggests a power tussle, already rumoured, between Amazon and Broccoli and Wilson that the technology giant has seemingly won.
As a Brit, one of the things we’re probably most focused on is, will this mean an end to the previous guard’s insistence that the new 007 must be a British rising star in their mid-30s? Someone who can commit a decade of their life to the role and allow it to define them? Or are we about to get Tom Cruise’s take on the spy, or Dwayne Johnson’s, as algorithms are turned to for guidance on casting, script and storyline? Jeff Bezos already got straight on X, asking his followers who should play Bond next.
Alongside the announcement though, is Wilson’s comment that, at 83, he is stepping back from making films. He’s spent nearly 60 years working on the 007 franchise, so his retirement is richly deserved – and being between eras and at a natural break, perhaps it gave permission for him and his half-sister Broccoli to look towards other pursuits?
And perhaps my misgivings will be proven foolish – the public famously didn’t trust Broccoli and Wilson’s decision to cast Craig until they saw how he and Casino Royale refreshed the entire genre. Maybe, just maybe, Amazon will be able to that too.
Could the new James Bond be a big Hollywood star?
Daniel Craig’s exit in 2021 left a huge question mark for future James Bond films as fans wonder who will take over the role.
Popular actors like James Norton, Renee Jean-Page, Harris Dickinson, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson are all thought to be in the running.
It was previously reported that the casting of the next Bond was a sticking point in discussions between Amazon and Eon.
Barbara is said to have been open to actors of any sexuality or race but wanted to cast a relatively unknown actor in the role, as they had done with Daniel, 56, in 2006.
He’s now a megastar thanks to the franchise but Amazon will likely want instant star power for their investment.
Could Hollywood favourites like Tom Hardy or Henry Cavill, newly released from The Witcher contract, take up the mantle?
That’s without considering the possibility Amazon might do the unthinkable and cast someone who is not British or Irish.
Hopefully, this is a line Amazon won’t cross but 007’s international antics are nothing new — bets on Ryan Gosling as Bond anyone?
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
