James Bond fans are expressing their outrage online as Amazon gains creative control over the legendary 007 franchise, fearing the beloved British spy may be swamped with endless sequels and spin-offs.
A Major Shift in Control of the Franchise
The longstanding producers of the James Bond films, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, are stepping down after 30 years of overseeing the series.
The pair, who are the daughter and stepson of Albert “Cubby” Broccoli—who first brought the character to life in 1962—have officially handed over creative control to Amazon’s MGM Studios.
This move follows Amazon’s purchase of the Bond franchise’s parent studio in 2022.
Fears of Another Franchise Going the Disney Route
Fans worry that the series could follow in the footsteps of other well-known franchises like Star Wars.
Disney acquired LucasFilm in 2012 for £3.2 billion and has since flooded the market with a slew of new origin stories, spin-offs, and series.
Some fans fear that, with Amazon now at the helm, characters like Q, Moneypenny, and even M could get their own spin-off series, diluting the focus of the main franchise.
Others are drawing comparisons to Doctor Who, which was acquired by Disney in 2022 and has faced criticism for what some consider increasingly “woke” storylines.
Fans of James Bond are expressing concerns that the same fate could befall their favorite spy, with Amazon’s large, data-driven approach to storytelling potentially overshadowing the traditional elements of the franchise.
Barbara Broccoli’s Legacy Under Threat
Barbara Broccoli has long been viewed as the guardian of her father’s legacy, and she has publicly resisted calls to radically alter the franchise.
In 2018, she firmly rejected the idea of casting a female Bond, stating, “Bond is male… He was written as a male, and I think he’ll probably stay as a male.” She added, “We don’t have to turn male characters into women.
Let’s just create more female characters and make the story fit those female characters.”
However, reports have suggested that there was tension between Broccoli and Amazon executives over how to move the Bond story forward, especially after Daniel Craig’s final outing in No Time to Die in 2021.
Broccoli allegedly voiced concerns about Amazon’s approach, even describing them in harsh terms to close friends.
The Transition of Power and the Future of Bond
After months of tension, Broccoli and Wilson announced a new deal with Amazon that grants the tech giant creative control of the Bond franchise.
With this deal, Amazon now holds the rights to all the Bond films and MGM’s extensive catalog, including more than 4,000 films and 17,000 TV shows.
Wilson, who has been involved with the Bond series for nearly 60 years, confirmed he would step back from producing future Bond films to focus on other projects.
Meanwhile, Broccoli stated that she will now turn her attention to other ventures, having spent decades ensuring her father’s legacy in the Bond world.
Amazon’s Pledge to Honor Bond’s Legacy
Mike Hopkins, the head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, issued a statement expressing gratitude to the late Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman for their creation of the Bond series.
He also praised the dedication of Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli in continuing the franchise’s success.
Hopkins emphasized Amazon’s commitment to honoring the heritage of Bond and looking forward to bringing the next chapter of 007 to audiences around the globe.
As fans brace for this significant change in leadership, many are left wondering how the future of James Bond will evolve under Amazon’s control.
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