EoN sells up - Amazon MGM to produce 007 going forwards

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  • Posts: 3,335
    Bond wrote: »
    007HallY wrote: »
    007HallY wrote: »
    Whatever way, I hope Amazon don't just play fan service and give an incredibly slim majority of fans what they want (through algorithms most likely). A Guy Ritchie directed period piece adaptation of Moonraker that's 'light and fun', filled to the brim with elaborate action sequences (ironically negating the original source material - sorry Fleming fans), and Henry Cavill as the lead for maybe one or two films. Or a generic and unmemorable Bond film with Aidan Turner or Theo James (if either even want to do it). It'd be disappointing, and even if successful in the short term would need some sort of creative growth to keep it going for multiple films.

    I hope the executive or director who takes on Bond next understands that it's a character/concept that can be interpreted in different ways, even if it's formulaic. I hope they understand how much can be done with even the source material alone for an original film. It's not just about copying and pasting lazily (whether that's the original Fleming novels or the tropes of the EON films) but actually re-imaging this character. I hope they respect and understand Bond as he is in his cinematic form.

    You mean like Casino Royale 2006.

    In a sense, but not in a way that's done through the process of storytelling/audience reasons, but because there has to be action sequences there.

    But whatever way, I honestly cannot understand why fans of Fleming would be happy or at least wholly optimistic about this.

    The last film was a huge slap in the face to Fleming fans, so I’m glad Barbara and Michael have stepped down. Who knows where Amazon may take us. They will most likely look at the most successful films of the franchise, critically and financially, and take that as their steer where to go next. And the great thing there is, the majority of those films typically rely on Fleming, with the exception of TSWLM and GE.

    So yes, as a Fleming fan I’m fairly ecstatic about this news. The more time I’ve had to digest this, I’m as excited as I was when Dalton was hired back in the mid 80’s.

    This is the best thing to happen to the franchise in years.

    Interesting perspective, your optimism is admirable and I sure do hope you're right, but I can't get past what the Amazon executive (allegedly) said during the talks on the direction of the franchise that leaked for the Barbara Broccoli story in December, where they said "I don't think James Bond is a hero". How do we have any trust that people like this will respect the franchise and its namesake or steer it in a positive direction?
    That could have been taken out of context. Unless you were there in the room at the time, no one knows how that conversation went. Maybe the Amazon exec was stating that Bond was more an anti hero, a bad ass rather than an all round good guy, which is how I understand the character too. Fleming himself stated that Bond was never meant to be a nice person. He was a flawed character, an alcoholic, chain smoking womaniser who killed people. I can see how that could easily be interpreted as not being a hero.

    I’d much rather be where we are now, a new team that takes Bond to a place no one knows where it will go, to the stagnant hiatus with 2 producers whose heart was not in it anymore, reluctant to take the series any further, and doing the craziest thing ever to the franchise by killing off the main character.

    That is far more damaging than anything Amazon will probably do.
  • edited February 21 Posts: 4,628
    Bond wrote: »
    007HallY wrote: »
    007HallY wrote: »
    Whatever way, I hope Amazon don't just play fan service and give an incredibly slim majority of fans what they want (through algorithms most likely). A Guy Ritchie directed period piece adaptation of Moonraker that's 'light and fun', filled to the brim with elaborate action sequences (ironically negating the original source material - sorry Fleming fans), and Henry Cavill as the lead for maybe one or two films. Or a generic and unmemorable Bond film with Aidan Turner or Theo James (if either even want to do it). It'd be disappointing, and even if successful in the short term would need some sort of creative growth to keep it going for multiple films.

    I hope the executive or director who takes on Bond next understands that it's a character/concept that can be interpreted in different ways, even if it's formulaic. I hope they understand how much can be done with even the source material alone for an original film. It's not just about copying and pasting lazily (whether that's the original Fleming novels or the tropes of the EON films) but actually re-imaging this character. I hope they respect and understand Bond as he is in his cinematic form.

    You mean like Casino Royale 2006.

    In a sense, but not in a way that's done through the process of storytelling/audience reasons, but because there has to be action sequences there.

    But whatever way, I honestly cannot understand why fans of Fleming would be happy or at least wholly optimistic about this.

    The last film was a huge slap in the face to Fleming fans, so I’m glad Barbara and Michael have stepped down. Who knows where Amazon may take us. They will most likely look at the most successful films of the franchise, critically and financially, and take that as their steer where to go next. And the great thing there is, the majority of those films typically rely on Fleming, with the exception of TSWLM and GE.

    So yes, as a Fleming fan I’m fairly ecstatic about this news. The more time I’ve had to digest this, I’m as excited as I was when Dalton was hired back in the mid 80’s.

    This is the best thing to happen to the franchise in years.

    Interesting perspective, your optimism is admirable and I sure do hope you're right, but I can't get past what the Amazon executive (allegedly) said during the talks on the direction of the franchise that leaked for the Barbara Broccoli story in December, where they said "I don't think James Bond is a hero". How do we have any trust that people like this will respect the franchise and its namesake or steer it in a positive direction?
    That could have been taken out of context. Unless you were there in the room at the time, no one knows how that conversation went. Maybe the Amazon exec was stating that Bond was more an anti hero, a bad ass rather than an all round good guy, which is how I understand the character too. Fleming himself stated that Bond was never meant to be a nice person. He was a flawed character, an alcoholic, chain smoking womaniser who killed people. I can see how that could easily be interpreted as not being a hero.

    I’d much rather be where we are now, a new team that takes Bond to a place no one knows where it will go, to the stagnant hiatus with 2 producers whose heart was not in it anymore, reluctant to take the series any further, and doing the craziest thing ever to the franchise by killing off the main character.

    That is far more damaging than anything Amazon will probably do.

    For me personally I think going around claiming Bond’s an anti hero misses the point entirely. He’s a man, to use Fleming’s phrase, with many vices (often which are double edged swords - part of the fun of the character on one level, but also part of his dangerous profession) but whose virtues - bravery and sense of duty - lead him to do the right thing. But he’s a hero ultimately. It’s a subtle understanding of the character, both on film and in Fleming’s novels. It took EON a while to even understand it fully. Even Fleming, conflicted as he was about his character at times, never fully articulated it. Unfortunately that understanding of Bond’s character is what we’ve lost.

    We’ll see. For me a big part of EON making the films was them still having that conscious creative link with the books (the last few films especially) in adaptation. They knew who Bond was. I don’t necessarily think it’s something other producers will prioritise, or necessarily care about/immediately get in the same way. But again we’ll see.
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,287
    I think this is arguably the biggest news in the series history since Cubby and Harry signed a deal with David Picker at UA.
  • edited February 21 Posts: 3,335
    Benny wrote: »
    I think this is arguably the biggest news in the series history since Cubby and Harry signed a deal with David Picker at UA.

    Yes you’re right. This is bigger than Harry leaving, or Barbara taking over too.

    This is the first time in a long while that I’ve been genuinely excited again as a Bond fan.

    I’m guessing this negotiation has been going on for a long while. I’m also guessing Amazon could already have been working behind the scenes for a few months on the next film, and we could get an announcement on who the next Bond is very soon. We are no longer following the EON playbook anymore now on how an actor is selected.

    Now this legally has been announced and is out of the way, I bet we are in for some real news on Bond 26 anytime soon.
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    Posts: 8,656
    Benny wrote: »
    I think this is arguably the biggest news in the series history since Cubby and Harry signed a deal with David Picker at UA.

    Yes you’re right. This is bigger than Harry leaving, or Barbara taking over too.

    This is the first time in a long while that I’ve been genuinely excited again as a Bond fan.

    I’m guessing this negotiation has been going on for a long while. I’m also guessing Amazon could already have been working behind the scenes for a few months on the next film, and we could get an announcement on who the next Bond is very soon. We are no longer following the EON playbook anymore now on how an actor is selected.

    Now this legally has been announced and is out of the way, I bet we are in for some real news on Bond 26 anytime soon.

    jetsetwilly, a new film coming in 2027 do we think?
  • Posts: 3,335
    Benny wrote: »
    I think this is arguably the biggest news in the series history since Cubby and Harry signed a deal with David Picker at UA.

    Yes you’re right. This is bigger than Harry leaving, or Barbara taking over too.

    This is the first time in a long while that I’ve been genuinely excited again as a Bond fan.

    I’m guessing this negotiation has been going on for a long while. I’m also guessing Amazon could already have been working behind the scenes for a few months on the next film, and we could get an announcement on who the next Bond is very soon. We are no longer following the EON playbook anymore now on how an actor is selected.

    Now this legally has been announced and is out of the way, I bet we are in for some real news on Bond 26 anytime soon.

    jetsetwilly, a new film coming in 2027 do we think?

    Anything is possible now. I wouldn’t rule out a film by the end of 2026.

  • ThunderballThunderball playing Chemin de Fer in a casino, downing Vespers
    edited February 21 Posts: 860
    I hate Amazon. I refuse to buy from the website or sub to Amazon Prime.

    I really, REALLY hope that, going forward, there still will be Bond films that will be released in theaters. I just won't have them on wonderful blu-ray. 😭
  • TripAcesTripAces Universal Exports
    Posts: 4,612
    "Mad Men" style.

    I've been calling for this for a long time.
  • matt_umatt_u better known as Mr. Roark
    Posts: 4,347
    From a recent Variety piece: “What will happen to it now? I don’t have a crystal ball, but we sort of know what will happen. Now owned by a company, Amazon MGM, whose essential mission is to convert movies into streaming content, the Bond series will likely be “expanded,” spun off into sideline franchises (“The Reign of M,” “The Blofeld Chronicles,” “Young Bond: License to Drive”), maybe serialized, and generally milked. The same thing will happen to it that happened to the “Star Wars” franchise after George Lucas relinquished control of that to Disney: It will be expanded so much that it will, in an essential way, be watered down, and the more that that happens, the more the producers will scramble to make up for the mistakes they’ve made, which can only mean one thing: Even more content! Strip-mining the mystique. Killing the golden goose by exploiting it into oblivion.

    But do we trust the executives at Amazon with that mission? An article about the tensions between Amazon and the Broccoli family, published in the Wall Street Journal on Dec. 19, 2024, quotes an “Amazon employee” as saying, “I have to be honest. I don’t think James Bond is a hero.” The article then says, “The room went silent.” The implication is that the person who said that was a crucial figure in the company. If that’s true, what does it say about where the James Bond series is going to go?“.

    https://variety.com/2025/film/columns/branded-not-stirred-is-james-bond-now-set-to-become-content-amazon-deal-1236314919/


  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 17,102
    Murdock wrote: »
    As long as it doesn't mess with the La la land soundtracks releases, I'm more than willing to give Amazon a chance. I'm more curious than excited but hopefully we'll get something that all fans can enjoy.

    Oh gosh that’s a point. Mr Bulk did say it was directly Eon who tells them which score to release, seems possible this could put a spanner in the works.
    zb007 wrote: »
    Dwayne wrote: »
    I apologize if this new Calvin Dyson video has already been posted.
    (mods: feel free to delete).


    Gone right off him after watching that

    It’s the giggling for me.
    In the end we can blame Harry for this he is the one who sold his shares if cubby fully owned we wouldn't probably be talking about this

    Yup, agreed.
  • edited February 21 Posts: 12,590
    The news made me think of a bit from SP - in this clip, M’s little speech from about 1:10-1:30. Not the exact same thing, but just the melancholy concept of a great thing destined to end.

  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 17,102
    It’s the nature of glass to break, I always thought that was a good line.
  • SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷ Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria
    edited February 21 Posts: 2,281
    At this point, there's nothing any Bond fan can do about it, but hope for the best. There's no doubt that change always feels like a blanket, taken off from someone during winter. But it's James Bond. I have to try and stay optimistic. Let's hope Amazon releases a statement soon to calm us down.
    I also don't think Amazon are completely ignorant of who James Bond is. The people working at Amazon have watched this series as kids and might have even read Fleming. They know it's got ardent fans. So I want to believe and think that whatever thing Amazon want to do with James Bond, they have already considered Bond fans.
  • Posts: 1,615
    CountJohn wrote: »
    A dark day. Those of you who thought the Craig films "weren't Bond" are going to be in for a rude awakening on how not Bond a so called "Bond" film can be. Every one of the Craig films "went hard" whether you like them or not, now it's time for the low effort Disney Star Wars version of Bond. Buckle up and get ready for a Q spinoff, a Moneypenny spinoff, an M spinoff, a Blofeld spinoff, and several different Bonds (a woman, a gay one, maybe a regular one if we're lucky) all of which will suck!

    It's not the end of the world, people will appreciate NSNA now.


  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    edited February 21 Posts: 8,656
    It's really hard to be too down when, after over 3 years of nothing happening, we might get a new Bond movie within the next 2 years, possible Casting within the next 6 to 12 months. Exciting times are ahead finally.
  • Posts: 7,797
    I have absolutely zero interest in any kind of spin offs of any character from the series!
  • Posts: 400
    Amazon Studios boss Jennifer Salke have a $60 million deal with Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
    You all know where this is leading.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 17,102
    At this point, there's nothing any Bond fan can do about it, but hope for the best. There's no doubt that change always feels like a blanket, taken off from someone during winter. But it's James Bond. I have to try and stay optimistic. Let's hope Amazon releases a statement soon to calm us down.
    I also don't think Amazon are completely ignorant of who James Bond is. The people working at Amazon have watched this series as kids and might have been read Fleming. They know it's got ardent fans. So I want to believe and think that whatever thing Amazon want to do with James Bond, they have already considered Bond fans.

    I hope the Broccolis are taking heart that reaction from the fans is generally disappointment that they're going. I think, on the whole, they're very much appreciated as having been champions for Bond over the decades.

    I'm trying to think of another living film producer who is as close to being a household name as Barbara Broccoli is. I guess Bruckheimer maybe.
  • Fire_and_Ice_ReturnsFire_and_Ice_Returns I am trying to get away from this mountan!
    edited February 21 Posts: 25,591
    It was a sad day yesterday, the end of an era. Thank you to the Brocolli family for best series in cinema.

    What the future holds... Well it won't be the same that's for sure. We have already been made aware the word 'content' was used describing James Bond. My fear is dilution and not treating Fleming's creation and world with the respect it deserves.

    I am not a huge fan of the last three DC films (DC's Bond dying is even more painful and irritating now for some reason), but they still maintained a high level of quality control.

    How much of the 007 production team that is in essence a family will remain for future projects.

    I am worried about the series though will try to be optimistic. I am over 50 and been spoilt with James Bond all my life so worse case scenario I have 72 years of films, music and books to rewatch, listen to and read.
  • Posts: 4,421
    mtm wrote: »
    At this point, there's nothing any Bond fan can do about it, but hope for the best. There's no doubt that change always feels like a blanket, taken off from someone during winter. But it's James Bond. I have to try and stay optimistic. Let's hope Amazon releases a statement soon to calm us down.
    I also don't think Amazon are completely ignorant of who James Bond is. The people working at Amazon have watched this series as kids and might have been read Fleming. They know it's got ardent fans. So I want to believe and think that whatever thing Amazon want to do with James Bond, they have already considered Bond fans.

    I hope the Broccolis are taking heart that reaction from the fans is generally disappointment that they're going. I think, on the whole, they're very much appreciated as having been champions for Bond over the decades.

    I'm trying to think of another living film producer who is as close to being a household name as Barbara Broccoli is. I guess Bruckheimer maybe.

    I don't think that's true. There are numerous producers who have the level of notoriety as Broccoli.

    It'll be interesting what she will do next, as she is essentially just another producer in Hollywood. She still owns the Bond intellectual property, so I imagine she must have a say in how that property is managed in the future (I guess that means no Bond-themed casinos, etc), it's just the creative aspects she has ceded - so Amazon are in charge of films, spin-offs, etc. However, the truth is that much of the deal is still opaque.

    Interesting talk below about who Amazon may hire to oversee the franchise



    I think Nolan/Thomas are the obvious picks (something I would be very interested to see), though I think David Heyman would be a great pick and in many ways a more exciting producer than Broccoli.
  • edited February 21 Posts: 448
    Regarding future Amazon Bond content...

    Animated Bond has major potential, I reckon. Probably be better suited to a tv show. I personally don't feel that excited by possible Moneypenny/Felix Leiter/Q tv shows nor any reality tv show using the Bond brand. But just my opinion.

    James Bond is the star of the franchise. I think that should be Amazon's primary focus. And I think it would lessen the anticipation for Bond 26 if they released a tv show before Bond 26's release. Hold back any spin offs until after Bond 26. You want people to be hyped for the return of Bond. If we have The Adventures of Q and Moneypenny 🤭 tv show then it may dilute the anticipation for Bond 26.

    I think Amazon doing a deal with a car manufacturer to create a new James Bond retail car would be worth considering. For a hefty price you can own the official Amazon Bond sports car. And Amazon could sell exclusive new Bond items on Amazon rather than via 007 store.

    Whilst Amazon could be terrible for Bond their 'creative control' does offer exciting opportunities too. Glass half empty or glass half full scenario, I guess.
  • ImpertinentGoonImpertinentGoon Everybody needs a hobby.
    Posts: 1,364
    Obviously, the end of an era and that never feels great. I think none of us can say for certain how this is going to go other than that it will be and feel different.

    I personally think this will lead to the worst impulses of the last tenure being accentuated even more. I admire the positivity of people expecting a lean action film in the vein of Reacher or something like that, but I can't see them going for that. Budgets will get bigger. Casting will be based more on recognition rather than fit and skill. There will be even less risk-taking.

    But, the future is clear now and we now know for absolute certain that James Bond will return. So that's a good thing, I guess.

    I had anticipated that MGW will step down. I didn't expect Barbara to go with him...
  • SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷ Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria
    Posts: 2,281
    mtm wrote: »
    At this point, there's nothing any Bond fan can do about it, but hope for the best. There's no doubt that change always feels like a blanket, taken off from someone during winter. But it's James Bond. I have to try and stay optimistic. Let's hope Amazon releases a statement soon to calm us down.
    I also don't think Amazon are completely ignorant of who James Bond is. The people working at Amazon have watched this series as kids and might have been read Fleming. They know it's got ardent fans. So I want to believe and think that whatever thing Amazon want to do with James Bond, they have already considered Bond fans.

    I hope the Broccolis are taking heart that reaction from the fans is generally disappointment that they're going. I think, on the whole, they're very much appreciated as having been champions for Bond over the decades.

    I'm trying to think of another living film producer who is as close to being a household name as Barbara Broccoli is. I guess Bruckheimer maybe.

    Yeah, I agree. We just hope for the best.
    True, Bruckheimer is on that level too.
  • Jordo007Jordo007 Merseyside
    Posts: 2,676
    Mathis1 wrote: »
    I have absolutely zero interest in any kind of spin offs of any character from the series!

    Me too mate. I have no interest in anyone in Bond's world without James Bond
  • ImpertinentGoonImpertinentGoon Everybody needs a hobby.
    Posts: 1,364
    I've said it a million times, never expecting Bond TV shows to actually happen, but I want a 10-15 minute per episode Rosencrantz&Guildenstern Are Dead-style companion show for the next film. Following two office drones working at MI6 as they have to deal with all the crazy things that happen in the main film.

    The original idea was for this to be basically The IT Crowd in MI6 during the events of Skyfall ("Someone must have stolen M's laptop." "Because of the link that was opened and infiltrated our entire system?" "Right, who does that?" "No, that was her alright. The old bat never really got the whole internet thing."), but I think there are other ways to make it as a fun little side project where the principal actors only show up once or twice, if at all and our secondary heroes have to prepare Bond's cover identity and clean up after him once he blows his cover; recover all the Q Branch stuff he left out in the field and clear his expense report with the budget department...
  • edited February 21 Posts: 4,646
    Fleming himself created a perfect "universe" to be expanded upon by having at least six other agents with a boss and supporting characters that we know and love. I find it strange that some Bond fans would not be interested in a 005 movie (for example) no matter how great the writing, acting, direction was, purely because Bond is not in the movie. These other agents have not been sitting around for decades doring nothing. We know they have their own licence and have been out there in the field, dealing with the own assignments/bad guys and their own internal demons/strengths/weaknesses. Why are these stories not worthy of being told? There is huge potential here...whether Amazon are up to the job is a different question.
  • zb007zb007 UK
    Posts: 94
    patb wrote: »
    Fleming himself created a perfect "universe" to be expanded upon by having at least six other agents with a boss and supporting characters that we know and love. I find it strange that some Bond fans would not be interested in a 005 movie (for example) no matter how great the writing, acting, direction was, purely because Bond is not in the movie. There is huge potential here...whether Amazon are up to the job is a different question.

    Because people don’t care about the likes of 005 it might be in there but that doesn’t mean we need to see anything based on it
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited February 21 Posts: 17,102

    zb007 wrote: »
    patb wrote: »
    Fleming himself created a perfect "universe" to be expanded upon by having at least six other agents with a boss and supporting characters that we know and love. I find it strange that some Bond fans would not be interested in a 005 movie (for example) no matter how great the writing, acting, direction was, purely because Bond is not in the movie. There is huge potential here...whether Amazon are up to the job is a different question.

    Because people don’t care about the likes of 005 it might be in there but that doesn’t mean we need to see anything based on it

    Yeah tend to agree, the idea of a Bond storyline but with someone other than Bond in it leaves me cold.
    That said, a Trevelyan spinoff was mooted the other day, and although I don't think that's a great idea, the idea of focusing on a 00 who is a traitor and an antihero.. I think that could be a story.

    There will be another 007 TV show of some form though, I can't see it not happening now.
  • buddyoldchapbuddyoldchap Formerly known as JeremyBondon
    edited February 21 Posts: 246
    One Aidan Turner has worked with Amazon on several productions. I've been advocating for him on mi6forums for like 10 years now, it is finally time for him to become the next Bond. There is no other who comes close and he'd be a perfect fit. An early 40s young and handsome looking Irish actor with charisma, dry wit and good acting chops.

    MV5-BMGQ3-MTg2-NGUt-MDEx-My00-MDdk-LWI3-ODQt-Ym-Mw-ZGRm-NGE5-ZGEx-Xk-Ey-Xk-Fqc-Gc-V1-FMjpg-UX1000.jpg
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited February 21 Posts: 17,102
    Can someone start a Turner thread so we can keep all of the pictures of him in that?
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