James Bond 26 gets a new update, with a report revealing what Amazon’s next steps are for the James Bond franchise. Since the release of Dr. No in 1962, the 007 franchise has remained under the control of the Broccoli family and Eon Productions. Last week, however, three years after Amazon purchased Bond distributor MGM for $8.5 billion, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson officially ceded creative control over the franchise to the company. Since then, it’s been unclear exactly how Amazon will move forward with 007.
Variety now reports that Amazon’s top priority is to get another Bond movie off the ground. The report claims that, to do this, the company will first be looking to attach a producer to oversee the entire franchise, with David Heyman, who shepherded the Harry Potter franchise, cited as the kind of figure they’re looking for. Variety notes, however, that Amazon will have to wait until the deal with Broccoli and Wilson officially closes at some point this year before anyone can actually be hired.
What The New Update Means For James Bond 26
How Amazon Could Expand The Franchise
With Amazon’s new position as franchise overseer, there has been speculation that the announced James Bond 26 wouldn’t be the company’s top priority. Now that the Broccolis are more or less out of the picture, Amazon will be free to create 007 spinoffs and TV shows, something to which the franchise’s previous ownership had been firmly opposed. The latest update certainly doesn’t suggest Amazon won’t be creating a Bond cinematic universe – they probably will – but the company will seemingly first be making another movie before setting its sights on franchise expansion.
Bringing on a producer to make sure that all future Bond projects after the No Time To Die ending adhere to a consistent vision may not be a bad thing. The Harry Potter movies, after all (Fantastic Beasts spinoffs notwithstanding), were remarkably consistent in terms of their quality and their success under Heyman. Even though a Heyman-like figure can’t be hired until the deal with Broccoli and Wilson officially closes, the company can put preliminary plans in place, meaning things could move quite quickly after the deal obtains regulatory approval, including casting the next 007.
Reports have noted that Broccoli and Wilson met with actors like Aaron Taylor-Johnson about Bond 26, but claim that no serious casting decisions were close to being made.
Our Take On Amazon’s Next Steps With James Bond 26
How The Company Can Avoid Franchise Fatigue
If Amazon expands the Bond franchise with TV shows and spinoffs, the producer figure they hire can ensure that all of these projects aren’t at odds tonally or in terms of their storytelling. The biggest risk with this, of course, is that if this producer’s overarching vision doesn’t work for audiences, each new project could be consistently disappointing. If multiple Bond projects are on the way, it might be for the best that they feel distinct from one another to avoid franchise fatigue.
One of the reasons why Christopher Nolan is reported to have not directed a Bond movie yet is because Broccoli wouldn’t give him final cut. If the franchise is to succeed, it may have to take some risks creatively, and attracting filmmakers like Nolan, who will bring their own unique visions to the table, is an effective way to do that. Many questions remain about Bond under Amazon, but the company is clearly making big plans for the future.
Source: Variety
