No Time to Delay: Why Amazon Took Control of James Bond as Next 007 Movie Remains in Limbo

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Over six decades, one family has been responsible for shaping every aspect of James Bond‘s persona, from his preferred martini style to his favored gun (Walther PPK) and car (Aston Martin). However, a groundbreaking deal with Amazon MGM on Thursday could significantly alter the future trajectory of this iconic film franchise.

In a groundbreaking move, I, a devoted Bond movie enthusiast, find myself awestruck by the news that Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, the visionaries behind Eon Productions and guardians of all things Bond, have partnered with a streaming titan. This partnership signifies a shift in creative control of the iconic franchise. The revelation, dropped when the series was at a standstill, has sent shockwaves through Tinseltown, where the Broccoli family’s association with 007 is almost as closely linked to Ian Fleming, the series’ creator, as breath and air to life.

2021’s “No Time to Die” marked the last appearance of the super spy, played by Daniel Craig in five blockbuster films. The final scene showed him gazing towards the sunset, moments before a missile attack was set to catapult him into the mysterious destination known as oblivion. Since then, speculation has been rife about who might step into Bond’s stylish tuxedo next, but progress on a follow-up film has hit a snag. Sources claim that there is still no director, no script, and no storyline in place, which has hindered the search for a new leading man. While a character bible has been circulating within the studio and informal discussions with potential creative minds have taken place, filming on a new movie remains at least a year away. This delay has reportedly caused discontent at Amazon, who invested $8.5 billion to acquire MGM four years ago, particularly because of its ties to Bond. Even after the initial purchase, Amazon MGM only held half ownership of the franchise and had limited say in creative decisions.

For decades, there have been whispers that the Broccoli family and Amazon have had disagreements concerning the future of Bond. They believed that Amazon was an inappropriate fit for the sophisticated spy, and were displeased by Amazon’s intentions to broaden the series, as per a report in the Wall Street Journal. Despite this, Amazon succeeded in persuading the Broccolis to approve a reality TV spinoff show titled “007: Road to a Million,” but so far, other attempts at revitalizing the franchise have been unsuccessful.

As a movie enthusiast, I must say that the collaboration between Amazon MGM and the Broccoli family is exceptional in its unique structure – it’s not a full-blown acquisition. Instead, the Broccolis will hold on to a piece of the pie, ensuring their continued involvement. However, this partnership shift means that the Broccolis, who have been the driving force behind casting, marketing, and other creative decisions, are now loosening their grip on the Bond series. This change empowers Amazon MGM to act swiftly and innovatively in keeping James Bond as relevant as ever in today’s dynamic entertainment landscape.

According to Jeff Bock, an expert from Exhibitor Relations, the next move for the Bond series aligns well with its history. The Bond films are Amazon’s prized possessions and their most promising intellectual properties when it comes to maintaining box office victories. He explains that in contrast to previous productions which took a considerable amount of time to mature, this approach no longer works in today’s competitive movie industry.

In the present disjointed media environment, the concept of a franchise has evolved to encompass a broader scope. The Broccolis have generally held out against these shifts, primarily dedicating their efforts to producing big-screen installments that follow closely, and only after extensive production periods. With the family retreating, Amazon and MGM now have the opportunity to construct a more expansive cinematic universe – one that could include television series and film spinoffs similar to Marvel or Star Wars. To illustrate the contrast in their strategy, Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder, quickly solicited ideas on social media for who should take on the next Bond role following Thursday’s deal announcement.

According to Eric Handler, senior media and entertainment analyst at Roth Capital Partners, there’s a great opportunity for reimagining this series. While Amazon could continue with the films as they are now, they might also explore new avenues such as creating a streaming series focusing on Moneypenny or delving into the origins of Q. Additionally, they could potentially introduce Ana de Armas’ character from ‘No Time to Die’ in a different movie. The possibilities are endless.

Currently, Amazon’s acquisition of MGM is yet to reveal its full details, as it’s still pending regulatory approval. This means that significant creative decisions are currently on hold. The main question now is who will replace the Broccolis in managing the studio. Established franchises like Marvel, Star Wars, and DC have dedicated executives (Kevin Feige, Kathleen Kennedy, James Gunn, and Peter Safran) to steer their respective ships, a role that analysts emphasize is crucial for maintaining quality control. Amazon’s head of film, Courtenay Valenti, has experience with renowned franchises like Harry Potter from her time at Warner Bros. However, given her wide-ranging responsibilities at Amazon, overseeing both streaming and theatrical releases, there might be a need for an additional hire to concentrate fully on the Bond franchise.

According to Handler, it’s crucial to have someone leading who clearly knows where they want to take the series.

The individual controlling the situation is under significant pressure as Bond makes his cinematic comeback. It’s one of Hollywood’s most profitable franchises, with a total box office earnings of over $7.8 billion across 25 films spanning seven decades. While Amazon has achieved some success with critically acclaimed movies like “Being the Ricardos” and “Manchester By the Sea,” they have faced difficulties in creating blockbuster films that resonate widely and bring in profits at the box office. In a world where people’s attention spans are short, Amazon can’t afford to keep its most valuable intellectual property idle.

The Broccoli clan is going through a period of change. In a statement, 82-year-old Wilson, who has collaborated on scriptwriting for some films while also producing them, declared his departure from the film industry. He stated, “I am shifting my focus to artistic and charitable endeavors by stepping back from producing James Bond films.” On the other hand, Broccoli, aged 64, intends to remain in Hollywood but redirect her efforts towards different projects as a producer. Recently, she acquired the rights to Doris Kearns Goodwin’s memoir “An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s.” Additionally, she is working on the musical “Buena Vista Social Club,” which is scheduled to debut on Broadway in 2025. She expressed, “With the completion of ‘No Time to Die’ and Michael retiring from the films, it feels appropriate to concentrate on my other projects.

Even in today’s era where minor characters often head spin-offs or sequels, the James Bond series stands out as one that hasn’t been excessively commercialized. The Broccoli family has consistently declined offers for shows based on Bond’s early years and exercise caution when deciding on the agent’s future appearances. Those involved in Bond productions acknowledge the Broccolis’ dedication to preserving the character, but mention they can sometimes be resistant to ideas or feedback from studio collaborators.

As a movie enthusiast, I couldn’t help but worry about how they were going to surpass Daniel Craig’s run of films in the James Bond franchise. His tenure not only broke box office records but also earned the series its highest critical acclaim. In the build-up to “No Time to Die,” Barbara Broccoli, who had championed for Craig over more traditional candidates, admitted that his decision to leave the role was a source of great distress for her.

It could be even more distressing to witness the individual eventually given Bond’s license to kill. Creators such as George Lucas have received substantial compensation, surrendering the characters they protected to larger corporations, and later voicing remorse over the paths their franchises followed. Interestingly, both Broccolis were nurtured by Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, the producer who initially brought Bond to the big screen, with a belief that their fates were intertwined with that of the suave, heavy-drinking, thrill-seeking character.

Regardless if it’s for good or bad, we hold the caretaking role for this character,” Broccoli shared with EbMaster in 2020. “This duty we shoulder is one we don’t take lightly.

Now, Bond’s future is someone else’s responsibility.

Adam B. Vary contributed to this report.

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2025-02-20 23:18