The next installment in the “James Bond” franchise is still in development limbo due to a disagreement between the series’ main producer and its new owner, Amazon.
In a report from the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), longtime Bond producer Barbara Broccoli and Amazon – which purchased MGM Studios in 2021 – are in an “ugly standoff” over decisions regarding the future of the franchise. These include decisions about whether Bond should be turned into a streaming series or more philosophical series, like whether the main character is even a hero.
“I have to be honest, I don’t think James Bond is a hero,” an Amazon executive said during a recent meeting about upcoming Bond content, the outlet reported. This quote seems to highlight Broccoli’s fear that Amazon doesn’t understand the character she has devoted her career to.
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Amazon and “Bond” lead producer Barbara Broccoli are reportedly in an “ugly standoff” over the future of the “James Bond” franchise. (Getty Images)
Broccoli, who has had creative control over the “007” film franchise for more than three decades, “told friends she didn’t trust algorithm-centric Amazon with a character she helped create.” mythologizing through big-screen storytelling and instinct,” WSJ reported.
According to the report, the relationship between Broccoli and Bond’s new owners is so difficult that, as recently as this fall, Broccoli “characterized the status of a new film in dire terms: no script, no story and no Bond again. This lack of momentum in the franchise nearly three years after the last film, 2021’s “No Time To Die,” is unprecedented for a series that used to do an episode almost every year or two since its debut in the 60s.
“These people are f—ing idiots,” Broccoli reportedly told friends of Amazon executives.
The WSJ spoke with 20 people familiar with the Amazon-Broccoli feud to understand the nature of the standoff, writing that it “comes down to a clash between 20th-century Hollywood of big screens and big screens.” swings, and a new entertainment industry led by Silicon Valley.” companies that value data, algorithms and streaming subscriptions. »
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Actor Daniel Craig’s fifth and final role as James Bond was in the 2021 film, “No Time to Die.” (Karwai Tang)
Broccoli “complained that Amazon is not a good home for Bond, since the company’s main business is selling everything from toilet paper to vacuum cleaners,” the report said, while specifying that she did not speak out against Amazon’s purchase of MGM because she “didn’t want to complicate what many in Hollywood saw as a massive payout for MGM’s owners.”
As part of the deal, MGM executives ensured that Amazon committed to bringing Bond to the big screen instead of relegating the franchise to a streaming series. The outlet noted that when an enthusiastic Amazon executive floated the idea of various Bond TV spin-offs, including a potential “Moneypenny” spin-off, or a 007 female spin-off, Broccoli rejected the idea.
“Have you read the contract?” she would have replied.
In recent years, Broccoli has pushed back against various ideas within the industry that Bond could adopt a different identity in terms of gender or race in future films. But as the outlet reported, she believes the spy “should always be played by a man, and should always be played by a Brit.”
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The WSJ also mentioned that Broccoli shot down ideas for Bond villains inspired by current real-world characters that some people consider evil.
“‘Elon Musk?’ she told a friend. “I did that in 1997.” Broccoli was referring to the villain from that year’s 007 franchise, “Tomorrow Never Dies.” The outlet described the villain as “a wealthy tycoon whose global media empire includes a satellite network.”
Liberal media and Democratic lawmakers have recently seized on a new talking point as the new administration prepares to enter the White House: Elon Musk is a “shadow” president, taking the reins from President-elect Donald Trump.
The WSJ rounded out its report with one final example of the strained relationship between Broccoli and Amazon. He noted that during her acceptance speech at a film industry awards ceremony in November, “she didn’t mention Amazon.”
Amazon did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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