In a surprise move, Amazon MGM Studios will take creative control of the long-running James Bond franchise.
The announcement was made on Thursday, per Variety. Producers and custodians of the franchise, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, will step back and cede control of any future projects. The agreement stipulates that Wilson and Broccoli will retain intellectual property rights, but the outlet noted that creative control is moving fully into Amazon MGM’s wheelhouse.
“Since his theatrical introduction over 60 years ago, James Bond has been one of the most iconic characters in filmed entertainment,” Head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios Mike Hopkins said.
“We are grateful to the late Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman for bringing James Bond to movie theaters 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 honored to continue this treasured heritage, and look forward to ushering in the next phase of the legendary 007 for audiences around the world.”
Both producers also weighed in on the change. “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.
“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 honor 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,” Broccoli added.
Amazon purchased MGM for $8.5 billion in 2022 and, in doing so, acquired the rights to distribute all “James Bond” projects. The last film in the franchise starring Daniel Craig as 007, “No Time to Die,” premiered in 2021 following a COVID delay.
There are no known Bond movies in the works. There have been rumors for years about creative differences between the producers and Amazon, with Broccoli reportedly saying of the execs, “These people are f***ing idiots.”
Craig has yet to be replaced as Bond, and rumors about who could be tapped next are swirling. Broccoli remained adamant that the character should remain a British man, but other than that, she was open.
“I think [the next James Bond] will be a man because I don’t think a woman should play James Bond,” Broccoli said in 2021. “I believe in making characters for women and not just having women play men’s roles.”
“I don’t think there are enough great roles for women, and it’s very important to me that we make movies for women about women,” she added. “He should be British, so British can be any [ethnicity or race].”
The James Bond franchise focuses on the titular character, a fictional British Secret Service agent created by Ian Fleming in 1953. His popular books were later adapted into films, which became one of the highest-grossing franchises of all time, earning more than $7 billion at the box office since Sean Connery first took on the role of “Dr. No” in 1962.
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In a surprise move, Amazon MGM Studios will take creative control of the long-running James Bond franchise.
The announcement was made on Thursday, per Variety. Producers and custodians of the franchise, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, will step back and cede control of any future projects. The agreement stipulates that Wilson and Broccoli will retain intellectual property rights, but the outlet noted that creative control is moving fully into Amazon MGM’s wheelhouse.
“Since his theatrical introduction over 60 years ago, James Bond has been one of the most iconic characters in filmed entertainment,” Head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios Mike Hopkins said.
“We are grateful to the late Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman for bringing James Bond to movie theaters 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 honored to continue this treasured heritage, and look forward to ushering in the next phase of the legendary 007 for audiences around the world.”
Both producers also weighed in on the change. “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.
“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 honor 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,” Broccoli added.
Amazon purchased MGM for $8.5 billion in 2022 and, in doing so, acquired the rights to distribute all “James Bond” projects. The last film in the franchise starring Daniel Craig as 007, “No Time to Die,” premiered in 2021 following a COVID delay.
There are no known Bond movies in the works. There have been rumors for years about creative differences between the producers and Amazon, with Broccoli reportedly saying of the execs, “These people are f***ing idiots.”
Craig has yet to be replaced as Bond, and rumors about who could be tapped next are swirling. Broccoli remained adamant that the character should remain a British man, but other than that, she was open.
“I think [the next James Bond] will be a man because I don’t think a woman should play James Bond,” Broccoli said in 2021. “I believe in making characters for women and not just having women play men’s roles.”
“I don’t think there are enough great roles for women, and it’s very important to me that we make movies for women about women,” she added. “He should be British, so British can be any [ethnicity or race].”
The James Bond franchise focuses on the titular character, a fictional British Secret Service agent created by Ian Fleming in 1953. His popular books were later adapted into films, which became one of the highest-grossing franchises of all time, earning more than $7 billion at the box office since Sean Connery first took on the role of “Dr. No” in 1962.
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