James Bond isn’t just a franchise anymore – it’s a legacy. From Sean Connery’s debonair charm to Daniel Craig’s gritty realism, 007 has redefined cinema era after era. Now, there has been a little change in the legacy as Amazon MGM takes creative control of the franchise from long-time producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.
Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have been protective over James Bond ever since her father, Cubby Broccoli, passed on the business before his death. So, why did she finally decide to step aside after everything? Well, Jeff Bezos being in his villain era might be a reason why.
Jeff Bezos wanted Barbara Broccoli gone
As per the historic agreement, Amazon MGM Studios, Barbara Broccoli, and Michael G. Wilson formed a joint venture that would house the intellectual property rights for James Bond. While Broccoli and Wilson remain co-owners, Amazon gets the creative control and would be the one calling shots.
The Broccolis have protected the franchise with everything they had for the last six decades and were clear that 007 wouldn’t be going anywhere. Thus, when the news of the joint venture dropped, let’s just say that it was pretty shocking for the fans who were convinced that the corporate overlord would ruin the legacy.
Cubby Broccoli once told his children (via The Hollywood Reporter), “Don’t let anybody else screw it up. You can screw it up if you want to, but don’t let other people screw it up.” According to an insider, things have “always been franchise first.” So, why the sudden move?
Well, according to a source who confided in THR, Broccoli’s words against Amazon did not sit right with Jeff Bezos. The Wall Street Journal once quoted her calling Amazon executives “f*cking idiots” and when Bezos got the news, he made his decision.
The insider claims, “He read her quote in the Journal and got on the phone and said, ‘I don’t care what it costs, get rid of her.” Well, if this doesn’t scream ‘Bond Villain’ to you, we don’t know what will!
How much did the deal cost?
Well, since Bezos reportedly did not “care what it costs,” you must be wondering what it actually cost Amazon to go through with the deal and convince Broccoli to give in. Look no further.
According to Deadline‘s report, it took around a whopping billion dollars to get Broccoli and Wilson to say yes to the deal. For its purchase of MGM, the deal was initially valued to be around $3.5 – $4 billion but the potential acquisition of the Bond franchise hiked the value straight up to $8 billion.
However, in order to gain complete control over 007’s adventures, Bezos had to reportedly add a billion more to the mix. What’s a billion dollars more for one of the world’s richest men, right?
After spending a fortune on MGM and James Bond, we really hope Amazon does not mess this up. Fans seem to be convinced, though, that the company overtaking the franchise isn’t going to result in anything great. A fan wrote on X, “Amazon will destroy Bond sadly.” Well, only time will tell. For now, there isn’t much to do except sit back and wonder who the next 007 agent is going to be!
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