In a major shakeup for the film industry, Amazon MGM Studios said on Thursday it will take creative control of the James Bond franchise from long-serving producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.
The deal comes amid mounting speculation of the fate of one of the world’s most popular franchises, after a Wall Street Journal report in December said a clash between the Broccoli family and the e-commerce giant had put Bond’s future on pause.
The last Bond film, No Time to Die, which garnered nearly $800 million US in global box office, came out in 2021, and was also Daniel Craig’s last appearance in the role.
Since then, the franchise has been on the lookout for a new actor to play Bond, and there have been no announcements with regards to the timeline of the next film.
Amazon had bought Bond’s parent studio, MGM, in 2022 as a part of its media push, which had granted the company distribution rights to the long-running action franchise, but not creative control.
The deal with MGM had bolstered the tech giant’s foray into the media business, as it included a vast catalogue with more than 4,000 films and 17,000 TV shows, helping it gain more ground with streaming rivals Netflix and Disney+.
Possible expansion beyond movies
Under the terms of Thursday’s joint venture, all parties would remain co-owners of the franchise’s intellectual property rights, but Amazon MGM would have creative control.
This would give the tech giant a lot more freedom in its approach to the series, as fans await the 26th Bond film and the reveal of who will don the iconic tuxedo after Craig’s 2021 exit.
Happy Valley actor James Norton, Divergent star Theo James and Kick-Ass actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson are among those with the highest odds of playing the suave spy, according to betting website Ladbrokes, although fans have also speculated about heavyweights including Idris Elba and Henry Cavill.
“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,” said Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios.
The announcement Thursday also means that for the first time in the more than half a century of Bond, a Broccoli won’t be greenlighting the next 007 film, or picking who inherits his tux. Amazon MGM also anticipates expanding the franchise beyond movies.
Inspired by Ian Fleming’s novels, the Bond franchise has spanned over 60 years, grossing more than $7 billion US at the global box office, making it one of the most successful ever.
All along, major creative decisions, including who gets to be Bond, have stayed in the family through massive changes in the business, including new corporate overlords.
“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,” Wilson said.
Wilson and Broccoli are half-siblings who have been guardians of the franchise since 1995.
