Although James Bond legend icon has been in the hands of the Broccoli family since they bought the franchise from author Ian Fleming in 1961, Amazon MGM Studios recently made the announcement that now they will have the right to determine 007.
Amazon Takes Up The 007 Franchise
Amazon MGM has released a surprising statement. The US production company has asserted that it now has complete ownership of creative rights to the iconic James Bond franchise. Once owned by Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson of Eon Productions, the couple has released a joint statement with Amazon MGM. Although they will maintain control of intellectual property rights to the iconic Ian Fleming character, Amazon MGM will have complete creative freedom on the story line.
Mike Hopkins, Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios head, said, “Ever since he first appeared on screens more than 60 years ago, James Bond has been among the most legendary characters in film history.”. We would also like to thank the late Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli for taking James Bond to cinemas worldwide, and Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli for their commitment and for continuing the franchise’s legacy, which has been loved by audiences worldwide. We are proud to carry on this beloved tradition, and look forward to introducing the next incarnation of the iconic 007 to audiences around the globe.”
Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman purchased the rights to the sophisticated spy character in 1961 and brought the character to life with Sean Connery as Bond in the 1962 film Dr. No. Broccoli subsequently passed the franchise rights to his daughter Barbara Broccoli and half-brother Michael G. Wilson. The brother’s initial production union was in 1995 with GoldenEye. 25 James Bond films have been released on the big screen since 1962, and six actors have played Bond, the latest being Daniel Craig in No Time To Die (2022).
Barbara Broccoli added in a statement, “My life has been spent to maintaining and adding to the unparalleled legacy entrusted to Michael and me by our father, producer Cubby Broccoli. I’ve been blessed to work closely with four of the remarkably gifted actors who’ve played 007 and with thousands of great artists in the industry.” Now that No Time to Die is over and Michael has said goodbye to us at the cinema, I think it’s time for me to focus on my other work. Who will be James Bond next?
Amazon billionaire owner Jeff Bezos was not slow to come up with his next buy, either. On X (Twitter), the business tycoon asked: “Who’d you choose as the next Bond?” Well, from the very long list of names, Henry Cavill is most probable to get the new 007 showdown, and the debate is ironically going on for eternity. Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Idris Elba are also being considered, but Michael Fassbender, Chris Evans, Theo James, James McAvoy, and Tom Cruise were also mentioned in the discussion.
Who Will Be The Next James Bond?
Amazon billionaire founder Jeff Bezos was quick to show off his new purchase. Sharing a post on X (formerly Twitter), the tycoon entrepreneur asked, “Who’d you choose as the next Bond?” Top of the list is Henry Cavill, who has been debated for a long time. Other tops include Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Idris Elba, with Michael Fassbender, Chris Evans, Theo James, James McAvoy, and Tom Cruise making the rounds in the mix, well not so American mix.
Daniel Craig Raises His Toast:
Daniel Craig toasts (martini) a glass to James Bond’s long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. The pair made their decision on Thursday to retire from the 007 franchise and hand over creative reins to Amazon MGM. My admiration, love and regard for Barbara and Michael never falter and never weaken,” Craig, who portrayed the urbane spy in five boxoffice-hit films, told Variety exclusively. “I wish Michael a long, peaceful (and well-deserved) retirement and whatever projects Barbara embarks upon, I have no doubt they will be magnificent and hope to be involved with them.
Amazon, which bought MGM in 2021 for $8.5 billion, acquired the rights to distribute all James Bond films but only owned 50% of the franchise and was relegated to being a passive partner when it came to artistic choices. And since Craig’s fifth and final outing as the agent with the right to kill, in 2021’s “No Time to Die,” there has been constant press rumour-mongering about the future of the franchise but not a single statement about concrete next steps. Wilson, who has co-written several of the Bond scripts as well as produced them, has revealed he’s retiring from Hollywood. “With my 007 career now approaching 60 phenomenal years, I am retiring from producing the James Bond movies to devote time to art and philanthropic work,” the 87-year-old stated.
Broccoli, 64, will remain active in the film business but concentrate her time and efforts elsewhere as a producer. “My life has been dedicated to preserving and adding to the phenomenal legacy which was left to Michael and me by our father, producer Cubby Broccoli.”. I have had the privilege of working very closely with four of the incredibly talented actors who have portrayed 007 and thousands of great artists in the industry,” she stated. “With the end of ‘No Time to Die’ and Michael retiring from the films, I think it is time for me to prioritise my other work.”
Jeff Bezos Being All Glee About The Handover
Jeff Bezos appears rather excited to be rubbing shoulders with 007. His Amazon’s MGM Studios will have creative control of the James Bond movie franchise under a new joint venture with long-time rights holders Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, it was revealed on Thursday. Later that day, Bezos tweeted to boast about his latest acquisition. The Bond series, whose latest film, ‘No Time to Die’ in 2021 took close to $800 million in worldwide box office collections, will remain co-owned by all the parties, Amazon added.
The firm acquired MGM studios in 2022, along with its enormous library of more than 4,000 movies and 17,000 television shows, to gain more traction against streaming competitors such as Netflix and Walt Disney. This provided Amazon with distribution rights to the Bond franchise but not artistic control. “I think it’s time to concentrate on my other ventures,” Broccoli stated. Wilson and Broccoli are half-brothers who have owned the franchise since 1995.
“Happy Valley” star James Norton, “Divergent” star Theo James and “Kick-Ass” star Aaron Taylor-Johnson are among the favourites to play the suave spy, along with Idris Elba and Henry Cavill, whom fans have speculated over.
