A new deal on the future of the James Bond franchise has been struck, with Amazon MGM Studios poised to 'gain creative control' of the 63-year-old movie series.
The BBC reports that, while Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson will 'remain co-owners of the franchise' in a new joint venture, creative control will go to the tech and streaming giant.
Since the release of Dr. No back in 1962, the James Bond franchise has been helmed by Eon Productions, Albert 'Cubby' Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, and then Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.
However, the BBC's report says that creative control will now pass to Amazon MGM Studios, which may have a significant impact on the future of one of cinema's most iconic characters.
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In a statement Wilson said: "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 said: "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."
Amazon's purchase of MGM Studios a few years back gave them the right to release Bond movies, but there hasn't been a film since the 2021 flick No Time To Die brought an end to the Daniel Craig era.
Since then, 007 has been in limbo with a long wait for a new Bond actor and an idea on what the next step for the franchise would be.
007 has raked in billions at the box office and is one of the most bankable properties in the business, but the way James Bond is handled now that creative control has been handed over will have a lot of attention on it.
Amazon did release the gameshow 007: Road to a Million in 2022, which saw teams of people race around the world taking on challenges in the hopes of winning a cash prize.
Last year, the Wall Street Journal reported that James Bond faced 'a new kind of peril' and claimed that the historical custodians of the franchise and the new Amazon owners were a 'decaying partnership', with disagreements over whether to turn the James Bond franchise into a content machine and claims that during one meeting an Amazon employee said they 'don’t think James Bond is a hero'.
Perhaps this change will see some movement on a franchise which seems to have stalled out, but whether it becomes something different to what audiences have been used to remains to be seen.
Topics: Amazon, James Bond, TV and Film, UK News, Entertainment
Joe Harker