The James Bond universe was shaken, not stirred, with the news that Amazon now has creative control of the 007 franchise.
Amazon MGM Studios made the announcement on Feb. 20, effectively ending a reported standoff between the studio and the Broccoli family, which has been the gatekeeper of the franchise for decades. Longtime Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli confirmed they will not make creative decisions going forward.
“With my 007 career spanning nearly 60 incredible years, I am stepping back from producing the James Bond films to focus on art and charitable projects,” Wilson said in a statement. “Therefore, Barbara and I agree, it is time for our trusted partner, Amazon MGM Studios, to lead James Bond into the future.”
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Broccoli added, “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.”
So, why is this a big deal?
Ever since Daniel Craig ended his tenure as 007 in 2021’s No Time to Die, no new Bond has been confirmed. There is not even a script for Bond 26. Rumors constantly swirl on social media about who will fill Craig’s cuff links— Aaron Taylor-Johnson! Idris Elba! — and until this week, any casting decision would have ultimately landed with the Broccoli family.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos got straight to the point on social media shortly after the shocking news broke.
“Who’d you pick as the next Bond?” he asked his 4.3 million Instagram followers.
A backstory on Amazon and the Broccolis
Amazon bought MGM for $8.5 billion in 2022 and gained distribution rights for all James Bond films. It inherited a deal already set forth with the family, which got the final say on all creative decisions.
According to a 2022 report from Puck, Amazon wanted to amend the agreement as the company was not used to “the lack of control over a major asset” like Bond. The report said that Amazon was willing to write a big check to make it happen. (And it was reportedly very big.)
In December 2024, the Wall Street Journal said tension was at an all-time high as there was no script, story or new Bond. In private, Broccoli reportedly gave friends some candid thoughts on Amazon: “These people are f***ing idiots.”
Then came Thursday’s shocker that Amazon MGM Studios, Wilson and Broccoli had formed a new joint venture to house the James Bond intellectual property rights. Although all three parties will remain co-owners of the franchise, Amazon MGM now has creative control.
Sources told Deadline it took around $1 billion to get the deal done, but details remain unclear. Insiders close to the producers are reportedly stunned that Broccoli blinked first.
“She’s a fighter,” said one source, “but she got tired of fighting.” Amazon can now expand (and exploit) the franchise à la Marvel or Star Wars, something the Broccoli family notoriously did not want to do.
Who did the Broccoli family want to play James Bond?
The rumor mill was always buzzing about who would step into the role of Bond. In a November interview with the Associated Press, Broccoli wouldn’t comment on the most recent speculation that they had finally found their man in Taylor-Johnson. However, she teased it would be a man, likely in his 30s, and said it was not a given he’d be white.
“It’s a big decision,” she said.
Wilson was clearly aligned with his sister, previously telling Deadline that Bond would be a “thirty-something” actor, similar to Craig’s age when he made his Bond debut in 2006’s Casino Royal.
Who will actually play James Bond?
That’s in Amazon’s hands now. Judging from the comments on Bezos’s Instagram post, Henry Cavill is a fan favorite. Tom Cruise, James McAvoy and Tom Hardy were also mentioned.
It seems more than likely we will all find out soon. Amazon reportedly wants to get going on Bond 26 ASAP.
