EoN sells up - Amazon MGM to produce 007 going forwards

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  • Posts: 2,191
    Amazon MGM Studios, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli today announced that they have formed a new joint venture to house the James Bond intellectual property rights, and those parties will remain co-owners of the franchise. Under the terms of the new venture, Amazon MGM Studios will gain creative control of the James Bond franchise following closing of the transaction.

    “Since his theatrical introduction over 60 years ago, James Bond has been one of the most iconic characters in filmed entertainment,” said Mike Hopkins, Head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios. “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.”

    “With my 007 career spanning nearly sixty incredible years, I am stepping back from producing the James Bond films to focus on art and charitable projects. Therefore, Barbara and I agree, it is time for our trusted partner, Amazon MGM Studios, to lead James Bond into the future,” said Wilson.

    “My life has been dedicated to maintaining and building upon the extraordinary legacy that was handed to Michael and me by our father, producer Cubby Broccoli. 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.” commented Broccoli.

    In 2022, Amazon acquired MGM, including a vast catalog with more than 4,000 films and 17,000 TV shows. Since the MGM acquisition, Amazon has held rights to distribute all of the James Bond films, and as a result of this transaction will have creative control over future productions.
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,287
    This is huge news
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited February 20 Posts: 17,090
    Erm. Wow. What does joint venture mean, I'm a bit confused?
    Certainly it seems it won't be 'Albert R Broccoli's Eon Productions Presents..' any more...
  • SeanoSeano Minnesota. No, it's not always cold.
    Posts: 46
    mtm wrote: »
    Erm. Wow. What does joint venture mean, I'm a bit confused?

    Basically means Wilson/Broccoli and Amazon are partnering to create a new company that will hold all the Bond rights.
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,287
    So many ramifications from this. It’s a lot to take in, and there will be endless questions.
    Really wasn’t expecting this.
  • edited February 20 Posts: 2,191
    I suppose with NTTD we have seen the last ever "Albert R Brocolli's Eon Productions Presents..." at the front of the opening titles.

    I guess the cheque from Amazon finally had enough zeros on it.

    Hard to feel anything other than really gutted and concerned.

    The series we all love is now going to be driven into the ground the pointless pursuit of low quality prime streaming content.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 17,090
    Seano wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    Erm. Wow. What does joint venture mean, I'm a bit confused?

    Basically means Wilson/Broccoli and Amazon are partnering to create a new company that will hold all the Bond rights.

    So Danjaq is gone, Eon no longer to be involved with 007 I guess.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 41,091
    This is huge, and not in a good way. Wow.
  • edited February 20 Posts: 138
    I don't know why my first instinct was to think about Cubby and Roger serving dinner to the crew on various productions. Bond as a production was a family affair. It feels as though that dynamic is now over and despite the criticism sometimes levelled at Barbara and Michael, which I never agreed with, there was a focus on quality/respect of the subject matter.

    In these days of 'content' you can't help but look at Lucasfilm and Disney, fearing what's coming next. Will we be pleasantly surprised? It's hard to feel optimistic.
  • 00Heaven00Heaven Home
    Posts: 576
    Just read this. Gutted. I don't think for one second this is good news for James Bond going forward.
  • Mallory wrote: »
    The series we all love is now going to be driven into the ground the pointless pursuit of low quality prime streaming content.

    I agree. I’m speechless and somewhat horrified at the thought of what could come next.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 41,091
    Yeah I'm genuinely in awe and jaw-dropped by this news. Stunning.
  • Posts: 2,033
    WOW!! Barbara gave in??? I am very, very surprised to see that she did. She must’ve been given some guarantees in writing that the Bond movies will still be released in theaters and that Bond must still be a man etc... I just can’t see her giving it up without some sort of guarantees.


    On the one hand will probably get Bond films more often. On the other hand, they might lack in quality. We shall see.
  • SmilionSmilion Slovenia
    edited February 20 Posts: 10
    People that were complaining about a lack of development and lack of content, might have their wish fulfilled now, however I find this news deeply concerning. In a few years time, we might miss days and times of no Bond news. Nothing will be off limits now, movies, spinoffs, tv series, Jane Bond, black Bond, gay Bond ... the list goes on and on. Bond will be what sells not what is in the spirit of Fleming with Amazon at the reigns.

    However, there might be a movie coming late 2027 or in 2028. No way Amazon wouldn't be maimed by the potential revenue from the box office.
  • edited February 20 Posts: 9,903
    This is beyond depressing i … i dont know i cant believe i am depressed by this

    Honestly the franchise is over for me now. Well its been a great run
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    edited February 20 Posts: 8,364
    This hs probably been in the works for some time; expect things to now move quickly, with an announcement of the next film coming soon.
  • edited February 20 Posts: 71
    My first instinct is think that Barbara saw that the idiots at Amazon were never going to allow a movie without control over the output, and she realized that holding onto a dead property was going to endanger her father's legacy as well as all the people within Eon and Danjaq who have relied on Bond, so she made the best deal she could under duress.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,501
    Holy crap! I did not expect this! I never wanted it. Are they really giving up creative control over Bond?! I always, always wanted Barbara, Michael (and maybe his son) to have that control. I have not even read articles yet, just coming here immediately waving a distress flag. :( https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1mn9gz5x3mo
  • Posts: 9,903
    God dam it first disney ruins star wars now this wtf next
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,466
    I'm not sure how I'm feeling about this, but certainly not optimistic. We'll have to wait and see.
  • VenutiusVenutius Yorkshire
    edited February 20 Posts: 3,220
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    This is huge, and not in a good way. Wow.
    00Heaven wrote: »
    Just read this. Gutted. I don't think for one second this is good news for James Bond going forward.
    Mallory wrote: »
    The series we all love is now going to be driven into the ground the pointless pursuit of low quality prime streaming content.

    I agree. I’m speechless and somewhat horrified at the thought of what could come next.

    Same. I'm actually, genuinely, stumped as to what to say, but the above pretty much approximates the gut feeling. This cannot be good.
  • Posts: 2,191
    https://deadline.com/2025/02/amazon-mgm-studios-joint-venture-michael-g-wilson-barbara-broccoli-james-bond-1236295821/

    Insiders add that no decisions have been made on the future Bond films including who will star, direct or write the next film.
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,364
    Mallory wrote: »
    https://deadline.com/2025/02/amazon-mgm-studios-joint-venture-michael-g-wilson-barbara-broccoli-james-bond-1236295821/

    Insiders add that no decisions have been made on the future Bond films including who will star, direct or write the next film.

    This deal was not made without consideration of all of the above.
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,369
    Optimistic is certainly not the word! I'm more somewhere between neutral and we'll always have what we've got.

    Today is a sad day and the end of something fantastic.
  • Posts: 2,191
    talos7 wrote: »
    Mallory wrote: »
    https://deadline.com/2025/02/amazon-mgm-studios-joint-venture-michael-g-wilson-barbara-broccoli-james-bond-1236295821/

    Insiders add that no decisions have been made on the future Bond films including who will star, direct or write the next film.

    This deal was not made without consideration of all of the above.

    One can only hope that as part of this deal with Amazon, BB and MGW have made some kind of stipulation that they have to be theatrically released films. Seems unlikely... but would at least help.
  • RemingtonRemington I'll do anything for a woman with a knife.
    Posts: 1,535
    Yeah not gonna lie, I feel lowkey sick from this news.
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    edited February 20 Posts: 13,369
    Just think, if Harry sold to Cubby...
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,501
    It's very, very sad. I cannot get past thinking how awful this change of creative control is.
  • HildebrandRarityHildebrandRarity Centre international d'assistance aux personnes déplacées, Paris, France
    Posts: 495
    mtm wrote: »
    Erm. Wow. What does joint venture mean, I'm a bit confused?
    Certainly it seems it won't be 'Albert R Broccoli's Eon Productions Presents..' any more...

    The joint venture, as described by the press release, is that the Broccoli family would still make some money out of the franchise, but that they give creative control to Amazon-MGM, which is the opposite of what it was when UA then MGM owned 49% of Eon Productions in the seventies and the eighties.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 17,090
    What also makes me sad is that Bond has just become entirely American-controlled.
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