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Amazon has reportedly engaged in a significant financial agreement, exceeding $1 billion, to gain creative control over the James Bond franchise. This development has elicited a range of reactions from those associated with the iconic film series, according to insights shared by the Guardian.
On Thursday, Amazon MGM Studios announced the formalization of a partnership with Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, the British-American heirs of celebrated film producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli and the longstanding custodians of the Bond legacy.
As part of this joint venture, Amazon has acquired control over the James Bond intellectual property, marking a pivotal moment for both the corporation and the franchise. Although Amazon’s specifics regarding the transaction remain confidential, it is believed that the sum involved in securing 007’s rights is around $1 billion (£790 million), a detail first disclosed by Deadline.
Daniel Craig, who portrayed Bond in the most recent films, publicly expressed his commendations to Broccoli and Wilson shortly after the announcement. Craig, who debuted as Bond in Casino Royale in 2006, remarked, “My respect, admiration and love for Barbara and Michael remain constant and undiminished. I wish Michael a long, relaxing (and well-deserved) retirement, and whatever ventures Barbara goes on to do, I know they will be spectacular, and I hope I can be part of them.”
Conversely, concerns have been raised by Valerie Leon, a veteran actress known for her roles as a “Bond girl” in some of the earlier films. Leon expressed her apprehension that under Amazon’s oversight, the essence of Bond as a quintessentially British character may be lost. In an interview with ITV’s Good Morning Britain, she remarked that while change is inevitable, it might diminish the franchise’s traditional roots. “The Bond franchise was very British, and it won’t be any more… everything is so changed now, it just won’t be the same,” Leon stated.
With Amazon’s new role, the company is positioned to move forward with the creation of new films and possibly television adaptations without needing approval from Broccoli and Wilson, who have managed the character’s integrity since the birth of Bond in 1953 by author Ian Fleming.
It has been over four years since the release of No Time To Die in 2021. As the franchise lies dormant and no new Bond film is currently in production, fans are left to ponder whether this hiatus will turn out to be the longest in the character’s storied history.
Source
www.theguardian.com