James Bond’s franchise sees new era as Amazon gains control

The James Bond franchise will no longer be under the control of the Broccoli family, as longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have announced their departure from creative leadership.

The franchise, which began in 1962 with Albert “Cubby” Broccoli at the helm, was later passed down to his daughter Barbara and stepson Michael. Now, they have handed over creative control to Amazon MGM Studios, formed after Amazon acquired Bond’s parent studio in 2022.

The decision follows ongoing speculation about the future of the British spy series, particularly after No Time to Die—Daniel Craig’s final appearance as 007—was released in 2021. With Amazon now overseeing the direction of the films, the search for the next James Bond is in their hands, though no timeline has been set for the next installment.

Actors James Norton, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Theo James are among the leading contenders, according to bookmakers. Following the announcement, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos took to social media to gauge public opinion, asking: “Who’d you pick as the next Bond?”

A statement confirmed that Broccoli and Wilson will “remain co-owners of the franchise” under a new partnership, but Amazon MGM Studios will now have “creative control.”

Wilson, 83, reflected on his decades-long career, stating, “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.”

Broccoli, 64, also expressed her sentiments, saying, “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 honour 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.”

Under the Broccolis’ stewardship, the Bond franchise maintained strict creative control, a fact acknowledged by Daniel Craig when he presented them with honorary Oscars last November. “Over the years, many people and organisations have tried to put their own footprint on Bond,” Craig noted. “Barbara, Michael, I can’t tell you how much I admire your integrity in holding on to your singular vision as you brought Bond into the 21st century with a passionate and protective determination to honour the heart of this franchise.”

With the Broccoli-Wilson era coming to an end, Amazon’s influence could reshape the direction of the franchise. Speculation is already growing about the possibility of spin-offs, similar to how the Star Wars universe expanded on Disney+.

Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, assured fans of their commitment to the brand, stating, “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.”

Amazon has already experimented with Bond-related content, launching its first spin-off series, 007: Road to a Million, last year. Hosted by Succession actor Brian Cox, the reality competition show challenged contestants with spy-themed tasks for a chance to win £1 million. However, the series was met with mixed reactions, with Cox later joking that he had signed on believing it was a new Bond film.

The delay in announcing the next Bond film now appears to be linked to the transition of power. With no script, title, or director in place, the franchise may soon set a record for the longest gap between Bond films, surpassing the six-year hiatus between Licence to Kill (1989) and GoldenEye (1995).

In October, Amazon MGM Studios chief Jennifer Salke told The Guardian that the studio was exploring “a lot of different ways we can go” with the franchise and emphasized that “we don’t want too much time between films, but we are not concerned at this point.”

Despite this, reports from The Wall Street Journal in December suggested tensions between Amazon and the Broccoli family. The newspaper claimed that relations between them had “all but collapsed,” even alleging that Broccoli privately referred to Amazon as “idiots.”

(BBC)

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