James Bond TV spinoffs? More movies with a new James Bond actor? It’s all happening thanks to a new deal.
Amazon on Thursday announced that it has gained “creative control of the James Bond franchise” following a major new deal. It’s the conclusion of one of Hollywood’s most heated blockbuster battles.
In December, a spicy report from the Wall Street Journal revealed a behind-the-scenes fight over the fate of James Bond between Amazon; its subsidiary Amazon MGM Studios; and Barbara Broccoli, the rights holder of the 007 series. At that time, there was an uncertain future for Bond: Amazon wanted more (lots more, including spinoffs and cinematic universes), and Broccoli wanted to preserve the monolithic legacy of the franchise. “These people are f— idiots,” Broccoli reportedly said of her partners at Amazon.
In 2022, Amazon Studios closed an $8.5 billion deal to acquire MGM and the legendary studio’s century-deep catalog of films. But despite the transfer of the IP gold mine, Broccoli retained creative control over the James Bond character, thanks to deals struck by her father Albert “Cubby” Broccoli dating back to the 1960s and the production of Dr.
