The Eon era of James Bond has come to an end after 60 years.
Per Variety, Amazon MGM Studios is set to take creative control of the James Bond franchise. The announcement was made Thursday, alongside news that long-time producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli would be stepping back from the spy franchise.
Amazon MGM Studios, Wilson, and Broccoli have formed a new joint venture to house the James Bond intellectual property rights. The three parties will remain co-owners of the iconic franchise but Amazon MGM will have creative control.
“We are grateful to the late Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman for bringing James Bond to movie theatres 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,” said Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios. “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.”
Added Wilson: “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.”
And here’s Broccoli’s comment: “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.”
Amazon acquired the rights to distribute all of the Bond movies when it purchased MGM for $8.5 billion in 2022. There hasn’t been a 007 movie since No Time to Die (2021), which marked the conclusion of Daniel Craig’s tenure as the titular superspy and 00 agent.
This announcement has shaken (and stirred) the film community, with many already voicing displeasure at the decision for Amazon to have creative control over the franchise. Wilson and Broccoli were very careful to not milk the Bond IP, making sure that each new movie felt like an event. With Amazon taking the reigns, fans should expect a slew of spinoffs and television series alongside the next James Bond movie.
Are you a fan of this decision?