Amazon has taken control of the James Bond franchise after purchasing MGM Studios for $8.5 billion in 2022. The deal marked a significant shift in creative control, with Amazon now having final say over the iconic character’s portrayal.
Longtime producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli have stepped back from producing Bond films to focus on other projects, citing their trust in Amazon MGM Studios to lead the franchise into its future.
The decision comes after months of tension between Amazon and the Broccoli family, with reports suggesting that Amazon had offered a staggering $1 billion to secure creative control. The deal effectively ends decades of family-run management.
Jeff Bezos took to social media shortly after the announcement, asking his followers who they’d choose as the next Bond. The move suggests Amazon is eager to begin exploring new casting options for the character.
Rumors have swirled about potential candidates, including Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Idris Elba, and Henry Cavill. Tom Cruise, James McAvoy, and Tom Hardy were also mentioned in comments on Bezos’s Instagram post.
With Amazon now at the helm, fans can expect a significant overhaul of the franchise, potentially following Marvel or Star Wars’ model of expanding their iconic universes.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jeff-bezos-asks-fans-who-theyd-pick-as-the-next-bond-as-amazon-takes-control-of-the-franchise-232658438.html