James Bond
has just experienced a big shakeup, with the creative control of the franchise changing hands for the first time in 63 years. After the release of the first 007 movie in 1962 with Dr. No, a handful of actors have played the iconic British spy. The Broccoli family, including Cubby Broccoli and, later, Barbara Broccoli, have held creative control over the franchise through all these iterations, alongside Michael G. Wilson. Actor Daniel Craig bid farewell to 007 with No Time To Die in 2021, but few updates have since arrived about the announced James Bond 26.
Amazon MGM Studios, which purchased Bond distributor MGM in 2022, now announces that the company has formed a new joint venture with producers Barbara Broccoli and Wilson to house the James Bond franchise. This will give Amazon MGM Studios creative control over the franchise, taking it away from Broccoli and Wilson for the first time. Both Broccoli and Wilson will, however, remain co-owners of the IP. Wilson shared the following statement about the decision:
“With my 007 career spanning nearly 60 incredible years, I am stepping back from producing the James Bond films to focus on art and charitable projects. Therefore, Barbara and I agree, it is time for our trusted partner, Amazon MGM Studios, to lead James Bond into the future.”
Broccoli shared a separate statement about the shift for the franchise, explaining that she will be focusing on “other projects” following No Time To Die:
“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.”
Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios head Mike Hopkins also commented on the company acquiring creative control of the franchise, expressing graтιтude for the Broccoli family’s shepherding of the IP these past decades while also teasing the “next phase“:
“Since his theatrical introduction over 60 years ago, James Bond has been one of the most iconic characters in filmed entertainment. We are grateful to the late Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman for bringing James Bond to movie theatres around the world, and to Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli for their unyielding dedication and their role in continuing the legacy of the franchise that is cherished by legions of fans worldwide. We are honoured to continue this treasured heritage, and look forward to ushering in the next phase of the legendary 007 for audiences around the world.”
What This Change Means For James Bond
Expect Lots More 007
Since the ending of No Time To Die in 2021, there has been very little official movement on James Bond 26. Though there have been plenty of casting and director rumors, there has been nothing that Broccoli or Wilson have confirmed. A recent report from The Wall Street Journal explored the lack of any concrete Bond 26 updates, claiming that Broccoli and Amazon were ʙuттing heads about the future of the franchise. Broccoli, the report claims, was said to be frustrated with the company’s treatment of Bond as “content,” which included talk of streaming spinoffs and TV shows.
With Amazon MGM Studios now having creative control over Bond, it’s very likely that Bond 26 will be fast-tracked. It’s also likely that lots of 007 “content” is on the horizon, including spinoffs and TV shows. It seems unlikely, however, that this shift will mean a drastic change to Bond 26‘s distribution in terms of theatrical play. The company has previously expressed interest in remaining committed to putting select movies in theaters, and recent Bond movies have all been big box office successes. With Amazon now in control, though, anything is possible.
Who will play 007 in Bond 26 has been the subject of much speculation, with actors like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James, and James Norton all touted as potential options. An official casting announcement is now probably not far off.
Our Take On Amazon MGM Studios Taking Control Of James Bond
There Are Pros & Cons
Bond remains immensely valuable as a piece of IP, and Amazon will definitely be looking to capitalize on that. For those who have been frustrated by the lack of movement on the franchise since No Time To Die, this could be good news. More Bond is definitely on the way, and probably more than just a single feature film.
The risk here, of course, is that Bond starts to feel a little less special. If there are Bond spinoffs and a 007 TV show on top of more feature films, it could start to feel like franchise overload. The years-long gaps between movies help to build anticipation, and audiences missing a franchise makes each new release feel like a big deal. Many questions remain about just what the James Bond franchise’s future looks like under Amazon’s creative control, but there will certainly be no shortage of 007 “content” for years to come.
Source: Amazon MGM Studios
