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\u201cWho\u2019d you pick as the next Bond?\u201d Amazon founder Jeff Bezos<\/strong> asked<\/a> his 6.8 million X followers on Thursday, the day it was announced<\/a> that the James Bond franchise<\/a> will now be creatively controlled by Amazon MGM Studios.<\/p>\n The corporation has taken guardianship over the British spy series from longtime producers Barbara Broccoli<\/strong> and Michael G. Wilson,<\/strong> the daughter and stepson, respectively, of original Bond steward Albert \u201cCubby\u201d Broccoli, who died in 1996.<\/p>\n According to the agreement,<\/a> Amazon MGM Studios, Wilson, and Broccoli have formed a new joint venture to house the James Bond intellectual property rights. All three parties will retain co-ownership of the franchise, but following the closing of the transaction, Amazon MGM will have ultimate creative say over the character\u2019s direction in future films. Amazon MGM Studios was formed in 2022 when Amazon bought Bond\u2019s parent studio in an $8.5 billion deal\u2014with the Bond IP believed to be sizable motivation for the acquisition.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe 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,\u201d Mike Hopkins,<\/strong> head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios said in a statement. \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Based on Ian Fleming\u2019s novels, Bond was first introduced to the moviegoing public by the senior Broccoli and Saltzman with 1962\u2019s Dr. No<\/em>. Over the next 60 years, Wilson joined as a producer for 1985\u2019s A View to a Kill.<\/em> Once her father retired, Broccoli partnered with her stepbrother as a producer on 1995\u2019s GoldenEye<\/em>\u2014a collaboration that has endured until now.<\/p>\n \u201cWith 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,\u201d Wilson said in a statement.<\/p>\n Broccoli said in her own remarks: \u201cMy 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<\/em> and Michael retiring from the films, I feel it is time to focus on my other projects.\u201d<\/p>\n The shaking and stirring of the cocktail that is James Bond comes amid uncertainty about the franchise\u2019s future. Daniel Craig<\/strong>\u2019s last bow as 007<\/a> came in 2021\u2019s No Time to Die.<\/em> Prior to Craig\u2019s departure, Broccoli told Variety<\/em><\/a> in 2020 that the superspy \u201ccan be of any color, but he is male,\u201d adding, \u201cI believe we should be creating new characters for women\u2014strong female characters. I\u2019m not particularly interested in taking a male character and having a woman play it. I think women are far more interesting than that.\u201d<\/p>\n Since then, there has been rampant speculation about who is playing Bond<\/a>, which Broccoli last addressed shortly after the Amazon MGM merger. \u201cWe\u2019re working out where to go with him,\u201d she said at a 2022 BFI event, according to Deadline<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s a reinvention of Bond. We\u2019re reinventing who he is, and that takes time.\u201d<\/p>\n There seems to have been little movement on the next Bond film, possibly in part because of a \u201cdecaying partnership\u201d between Amazon and the longtime producers, as reported by The Wall Street Journal<\/em><\/a> last December. Sources told the publication that Broccoli had confided in friends that she was concerned over the abrupt departures of MGM film bosses Michael De Luca<\/strong> and Pamela Abdy<\/strong> following the company\u2019s sale. The WSJ also reported that Broccoli, dismayed over the use of the word \u201ccontent\u201d in relation to James Bond during one meeting, allegedly told friends of Amazon brass, \u201cThese people are fucking idiots.\u201d (Vanity Fair<\/em> has reached out to representatives for Eon, the production company behind the Bond films, as well as Amazon MGM for comment.)<\/p>\n Since news of Amazon\u2019s creative oversight, Joe Russo,<\/strong> a frequent director in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, wrote on X<\/a> to plead that the company \u201cDON\u2019T cinematic universe James Bond,\u201d adding, \u201cIt is one of our last, great theatrical events. Don\u2019t dilute that with a plethora of streaming spin-offs.\u201d<\/p>\n Last year, the most recent Bond paid tribute to Broccoli and Wilson for their commitment to shepherding the character\u2019s cinematic output. \u201cOver the years, many people and organizations have tried to put their own footprint on Bond,\u201d Craig said<\/a> while presenting them with honorary Oscars last November. \u201cBarbara, Michael, I can\u2019t tell you how much I admire your integrity in holding on to your singular vision as you brought Bond into the 21st century with a passionate and protective determination to honor the heart of this franchise.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n