The future of the James Bond franchise certainly shocked the world, and Timothy Dalton is no exception. Having played Bond in The Living Daylights (1987) and Licence to Kill (1989), Dalton worked alongside former producer Cubby Broccoli. Cubby’s successors, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, have elected to yield full creative control to Amazon. The decision came after Wilson’s retirement and ahead of James Bond‘s 26th movie, which prompted Broccoli to rethink her position.

In an interview with RadioTimes.com about the Yellowstone spin-off 1923, Dalton expressed his immense surprise at the decision. He shared his respect for the Broccolis, but he also maintains some hope for the future. While he expects Amazon to seek to “make a lot of money” above all else, he still hopes that they produce good movies as a result. Check out his quote below:

I was very, very surprised and shocked. Barbara is I think a fabulous woman and a wonderful producer, as was her father Cubby Broccoli, who I got on with very well and liked a lot. He was a very powerful and strong anchor for the project. Nothing went on that he didn’t want and it’s sad that he’s not with us anymore, that’s all I can say. It’s a wonderful franchise. The movies have taken different courses over the years, but there is something very good about the original and I hope Amazon latch onto that and give us the kind of film that’s brought so much excitement and fun to so many people. Can you remember the first time you saw a Bond movie? You were a kid, right? Me too! And that’s what got us going. Anyway, good luck to them, I say. I do wish them all the very, very best. They’ll be doing their best to make a lot of money, so hopefully they will make good movies. He was well in charge of the show and that’s not so anymore.

What Dalton’s Comments Mean For James Bond

The Future Remains Uncertain

The James Bond franchise is no stranger to turnover. Seven different actors have played 007, and an eighth is now poised to take over the role. Even the leading producers changed after Barbara Broccoli and Wilson took control over the franchise. Still, the Amazon acquisition may be the most significant shift. Amazon MGM acquired the rights to the movies in 2022, but it only managed to obtain full control on Thursday. It hopes to expand the movies into a media empire, while also featuring content that is not restricted to the silver screen.

There has been no Bond movie since 2021’s No Time To Die, which is an unusually long period of stagnation. That delay is likely to continue into the foreseeable future, as there remains no apparent successor to Craig. Between casting, writing, filming, and editing, it will likely be several more years before a movie is released. If it does not premiere until 2027, it will be the longest period between Bond movies in the history of the franchise. Amazon taking full creative control means that the company may move quickly to select the next star.

Our Take On Amazon Taking Over James Bond

Dalton Is Right To Be Concerned

There is something fundamentally unique about this franchise. In the age of streaming giants and cinematic universes, it has maintained a strict and orderly schedule. It does not have excessive spin-offs, and its one attempt at an animated TV show, James Bond Jr., collapsed after just three months. That may now be set to change. After acquiring the rights, Prime Video immediately released a Bond-inspired reality show, 007: Road to a Million. With that track record, there is no way to truly know what Amazon will do with the universe going forward.

Still, there are reasons for hope. Amazon has already reportedly invested billions into the franchise. If they damage its reputation, those billions will have been completely wasted. After the disappointing reception to the Citadel universe, Prime Video has learned a harsh lesson in straying too far from expectations. If Amazon MGM can avoid over-saturating the market, then the next era of James Bond can maintain its greatness.

Source: RadioTimes.com