With the James Bond franchise now officially in the hands of Amazon MGM, the future of this series is going to look extremely different. These movies have been produced with the cooperation of Eon Productions since the early ’60s with Dr. No, and this is the first time that Bond will be entirely controlled by a new company. This feels like the end of an era for James Bond, and fans will simply have to hope that the next era is handled well.
Amazon’s new James Bond universe will veer from the movies that we’ve seen in the past, but this doesn’t have to be a bad thing. There are some quiet positives to Amazon’s acquisition of the franchise; namely, larger production budgets and stronger marketing campaigns that could give a much-needed boost to the series after the extended hiatus following No Time To Die. An international company like Amazon could be exactly what James Bond needs, but I’m very skeptical about the studio’s ability to keep the series popular and successful.
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Amazon’s James Bond May Prioritize Remakes Over Original Projects
There Could Be A Huge Push To Remake Old Movies
Remakes are all the rage in today’s cinematic climate, and I’d be very surprised if Amazon pᴀssed on the opportunity to reboot the James Bond franchise with newer versions of movies that have already been made. This approach would be very similar to studios like Disney, which is constantly remaking its animated movies in a live-action format. Especially because there are no remaining James Bond novels to draw inspiration from, it’s entirely possible that Amazon will take this “fresh start” as an opportunity to lean into the remake trend.
However, this fresh start really should be characterized by something new. Remakes that have essentially nothing new to offer are to the detriment of the studios and franchises producing them, and James Bond cannot escape this. When Dr. No is such a classic in cinematic history, it doesn’t seem like many would ever want to see it remade.
4
It Will Now Take Even Longer To Cast The Next James Bond
The Search For The Next James Bond Starts Again
It feels like we’ve been discussing who the next James Bond is going to be ever since No Time To Die was released, and Amazon’s acquisition of the Bond franchise means that this process will have started all over again. It was reported that Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson (the previous owners of James Bond) had met with actors such as Aaron Taylor-Johnson about the role, but they had strict criteria about who was (and wasn’t) suitable to play this character. Since they have no input anymore, Amazon will likely have brought this search back to the drawing board.
3
James Bond May No Longer Be A British Franchise
An American Actor Could Be In The Cards
Similarly, it’s possible that Amazon will disregard the ongoing trend of casting British and Irish actors in the тιтular role. Nothing is stopping the studio from bringing James Bond over to America, or even focusing on a different character in this franchise. The Broccolis were the last defense for keeping James Bond in the UK, and there’s nothing holding Amazon to this rule anymore. The studio would undoubtedly face backlash if they followed through with this idea, but it could be a more financially viable option if they’re planning to shoot in the States.
2
James Bond 26 Without The Broccoli Family Is A Huge Risk
The Next Movie Will Make Or Break The Franchise
The 26th James Bond movie is hugely unpredictable — not just because of Amazon’s newfound influence over the franchise, but also because there’s no clear starting point in terms of Ian Fleming’s works. Daniel Craig’s era found its footing in original stories, but the first movie was at least inspired by one of Fleming’s books. This only worked because the Broccoli family understood exactly what made this series successful. It’s going to be a huge risk for Amazon to jump back into this series with an original story, and it will make or break the franchise on impact.
1
James Bond Will Become Oversaturated
James Bond’s Expanded Universe Could Kill The Series
Although it’s too early to judge Amazon’s vision of the James Bond series into the future, it’s almost certain that spinoffs, sequels, and prequels will be manifesting soon enough. Prime Video is the perfect place for these inevitable side projects to find a home, and Amazon has more than enough money to fund these series while working on Bond 26 at the same time. There’s nothing inherently wrong with a James Bond spinoff series, but it needs to have just as much dedication and care put into it as the movies previously did.
James Bond
- Created by
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Ian Fleming, Albert R. Broccoli
- First Film
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Dr. No
- Latest Film
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No Time to Die
- Upcoming Films
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James Bond 26
Summary
The James Bond franchise centers on the fictional British Secret Service agent James Bond, also known by his code number 007. Created by writer Ian Fleming in 1953, Bond has been featured in novels, films, television, radio, comics, and video games. The film series, produced by Eon Productions, is one of the longest-running and highest-grossing franchises in history, known for its blend of espionage, action, and sophisticated style.
