The future of James Bond — as well as the casting of the next 007 — now rests in the hands of Amazon MGM Studios as the series’ longtime producers have ceded creative control of the franchise.
Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson — the daughter and stepson of producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, who first brought Bond to the big screen with 1962’s Dr. No and remained with the franchise until his death in 1996 — became the main producers and stewards of the Bond series beginning with 1995’s GoldenEye.
On Thursday, Broccoli and Wilson announced that while they will retain the franchise’s intellectual property rights as well as co-owners of the Bond franchise, Amazon MGM Studios will now guide its creative future.
“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,” Barbara said in a statement (via Variety).
“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.”
Amazon acquired the iconic production studio MGM — which itself bought the Bond franchise in the mid-Nineties — as well as its catalog for $8.5 billion in 2022, a year after the most recent Bond movie, No Time to Die, arrived in theaters. That film was heralded as Daniel Craig’s last appearance in the 007 role, and in the four years since, there’s been very little movement on the Bond front, as no actor — despite rumors — has yet been handed the Walther and martini.
Presumably, that hiatus will soon end under Amazon MGM’s watch, as the studio is likely eager to bring Bond back to the big screen. “Since his theatrical introduction over 60 years ago, James Bond has been one of the most iconic characters in filmed entertainment,” Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, said in a statement.
“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.”
From Rolling Stone US
