A major shift in the James Bond franchise’s future has sent shockwaves through Hollywood.
Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson announced a “joint venture” on Thursday, February 20, that will see Amazon MGM Studios taking control over the search for the next Bond actor as well as leading production of all future films. The Bond franchise has been in a state of flux ever since Daniel Craig walked away following the release of 2021’s No Time to Die, and while there have been many rumors about who will play 007 next, a long-expected casting announcement never materialized. Now, it appears that Broccoli and Wilson will step back entirely from the search for the new Bond, leaving fans wondering if their beloved spy movies are in safe hands.
With many questions still in the air, Us Explains what we know so far about the future of James Bond:
The Announcement
On February 20, Hollywood reeled over the shocking news that Broccoli and her half-brother Wilson signed a “joint venture” for the Bond franchise with Amazon MGM Studios. Amazon left no mystery about who would be making decisions going forward, confirming in a press release that it would take “creative control of the James Bond franchise following closing of the transaction.”
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Amazon’s takeover was particularly galling for many because Broccoli’s father and Wilson’s stepfather, Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli, first gained the rights to author Ian Fleming‘s spy novels in the early 1960s in a partnership with coproducer Harry Saltzman. Cubby brought his children into the family business, before eventually turning over stewardship of Bond to them entirely after the release of 1989’s License to Kill (starring Timothy Dalton as 007). Cubby died in June 1996.
There were persistent rumors that Wilson was looking to retire from filmmaking following the release of No Time to Die, yet Barbara had been actively involved in the casting search for the new Bond actor and was expected to play a crucial role in development on the next movie. The two producers first inked a deal with Amazon in 2022 to distribute all of the James Bond films.
In a statement announcing her deal with Amazon, Barbara said her life had been “dedicated to maintaining and building upon the extraordinary legacy that was handed” to her by her late father.
“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 and Michael retiring from the films, I feel it is time to focus on my other projects,” she said.
For his part, Wilson confirmed that he would be “stepping back from producing the James Bond films to focus on art and charitable projects.”
“Barbara and I agree, it is time for our trusted partner, Amazon MGM Studios, to lead James Bond into the future,” he added.
The Backlash
Part of the reason many James Bond fans are nervous about this change in leadership is the tone used in Amazon’s press release on February 20. Amazon MGM made it completely clear it would have “creative control” of Bond — meaning its executives would theoretically be the ones choosing the new cast, story lines and creative team.
“Since his theatrical introduction over 60 years ago, James Bond has been one of the most iconic characters in filmed entertainment,” Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, said. “We 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. We 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.”
Many fans and critics have argued that Amazon could dilute James Bond by pursuing unnecessary spinoffs and streaming series. The Wall Street Journal reported that the working relationship between Barbara and Amazon MGM had been fraught in the past, including the producer allegedly dismissing Amazon executives as “f— idiots” at one point. Amazon MGM was purportedly interested in pursuing multiple TV spin-offs, potentially for M’s secretary Miss Moneypenny or a possible female Bond streaming series.
Barbara publicly pushed back against the possibility of a female Bond in 2021, telling the U.K.’s Press Agency that the character should always be male.
“James Bond is a male character. I hope that there will be many, many films made with women, for women, by women, about women,” she said. “I don’t think we have to take a male character and have a woman portray him. So yes, I see him as male. And I’m sort of in denial, I would love for Daniel to continue forever.”
The two parties collaborated on their first streaming spinoff in 2023 with 007: Road to a Million, in which Bond super-fans competed in an Amazing Race-style trek across famous locations from the novels and films. Brian Cox played a brand new Bond villain for Road to a Million, and Amazon showed confidence in the format’s future by renewing the competition show for a second season in September 2023.
There was a strong reaction to Amazon’s takeover among those close to the Broccoli family, with one confidant notified of the sale by Barbara telling Deadline the deal was like experiencing “a death in the family.”
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Others close to the situation argued that Barbara’s lack of success in finding Craig’s replacement also signaled that a change in leadership was inevitable.
“I do think that it’s possible that if God had sent us a totally no-brainer Bond in the last couple of years, then it might be a different situation,” one insider admitted.
Cillian Murphy, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Regé-Jean Page, Richard Madden and James Norton are among the many actors who have reportedly been in contention to replace Craig, though there’s no indication Amazon has made any decision yet on Bond’s next leading actor.
Daniel Craig’s Response
The most recent 007 actor responded to Amazon taking over the Bond series by ducking any controversy entirely, instead focusing on the accolades of the Broccoli family.
“My respect, admiration and love for Barbara and Michael remain constant and undiminished,” Craig told CNN in a statement. “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.”
Craig publicly announced that No Time to Die would be his final outing as Bond long before the release of the film in September 2021. He spoke often about the physical and emotional toll of each Bond movie, especially as he felt he was unable to take on other substantial projects during the 15 years he played the MI6 agent.
“Early on with Bond, I thought I had to do other work, but I didn’t. I was becoming a star, whatever that means, and people wanted me in their films. Incredible,” he told The Sunday Times in December 2024. “Most actors are out of work for large chunks so you take your job offers — but they left me empty. Then, bottom line, I got paid. I was so exhausted at the end of a Bond it would take me six months to recover emotionally. I always had the attitude that life must come first and, when work came first for a while, it strung me out.”
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No Time to Die left little likelihood for Craig to change his mind, as Bond was shown seemingly sacrificing his life to save his love interest Dr. Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux) and her daughter from bioterrorist Lyutsifer Safin’s (Rami Malek) deadly drones.
Craig has since earned rave reviews for his performance in director Luca Guadagnino‘s 2024 period romantic drama, Queer, and will reprise his role as Detective Benoit Blanc in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, due for release on Netflix later this year.
