James Bond
is totally under Amazon’s control now, after more than 60 decades of control under the Broccoli family and Eon Productions. Based on the books by Ian Fleming, the first 007 film was released in 1962, with Sean Connery playing the iconic British spy. After a handful of actors and more than two dozen movies, actor Daniel Craig ended his franchise tenure with No Time To Die in 2021. James Bond 26 was confirmed immediately afterward, but the franchise’s future remained a question mark for years afterward.
After Amazon purchased Bond distributor MGM in 2022, longtime franchise producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson retained creative control of the IP. Last month, however, it was confirmed that Broccoli and Wilson have relinquished this control, with Amazon fully taking over. The specifics of how exactly Amazon gained control, though, including how much the company paid and what the dynamic between the two parties looked like, remained undisclosed.
Jeff Bezos’ Reported Breaking Point With The Broccoli Family Over James Bond Revealed
How Much Amazon Reportedly Paid
According to a new report, one recent incident with the Broccoli family over the Bond franchise was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Prior to Amazon taking over creative control of 007, The Wall Street Journal released an eye-opening report in December 2024 that suggested Broccoli and Amazon were in disagreement over Bond‘s future. Amazon reportedly used the word “content” to describe the franchise at one point, which angered Broccoli and allegedly led to her privately saying of the company’s executives, “these people are f**king idiots.”
A recent report from The Hollywood Reporter suggests that Bezos saw this Wall Street Journal story and Broccoli’s alleged comments and wasn’t pleased. The report claims that Amazon ended up paying the Broccoli family close to $1 billion to take creative control, on top of the $8.5 billion it paid to acquire MGM. As one insider puts it:
“[Bezos] read her quote in the Journal and got on the phone and said, ‘I don’t care what it costs, get rid of her.”
Broccoli, 64, the report claims, was more willing to walk away from the franchise because Wilson, 83, had decided to retire. After working collaboratively with Wilson on Bond movies for three decades, it’s said that Broccoli didn’t have the energy to carry the franchise forward by herself, especially with the studio disagreements it would entail. There was also nobody who was next in line to take over for Wilson or for Broccoli, leading to her seemingly deciding to accept Amazon’s mᴀssive offer.
What The New Report Means For James Bond’s Future
007 TV Shows Could Be On The Way
In addition to the claim that Bezos was angered by Broccoli’s alleged “f**king idiots” comment, the THR report also reveals that Amazon executives tried to get a Bond TV show off the ground following its purchase of MGM in 2022. This included pitches for shows about Moneypenny, CIA ally Felix Leiter, and a female 007. Both Broccoli and Wilson are said to have firmly rejected these ideas, but with them now out of the picture, these Bond TV shows and spinoffs can all seemingly move forward.
A recent report from Variety claims that Amazon’s first order of business with Bond will be to hire a producer to oversee the franchise, with Harry Potter producer David Heyman cited as an example of a desirable candidate.
Amazon’s purchase of creative control still needs regulatory approval, which is expected to arrive later this year, but the company will probably hit the ground running when this arrives. This means a new Bond actor will probably be announced this year, as well as a director for the new movie. Christopher Nolan has been floated as a potential candidate since he would likely be given full creative control. Many questions remain about Bond‘s future, but, with all the money Amazon has spent, 007 is about to become about more than just one movie every few years.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
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.
