It's been over three years since the last James Bond, “No Time To Die,” was released, and we're still seemingly nowhere near getting another one. A Wall Street Journal report has now revealed some behind the scenes troubles.
Nearly three years after Amazon acquired the right to release Bond movies through its $6.5 billion purchase of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio, the relationship between the family that oversees the franchise and the e-commerce giant has all but collapsed.
It turns out producer Barbara Broccoli and Amazon are fighting over the creative direction of the franchise, with Amazon reportedly starting to push for “Marvel-style” ideas to expand the Bond franchise, including several spinoff shows and potentially other movies. Broccoli seemingly has zero interest in making them.
Broccoli, 64, who has fully taken the reins of the franchise, has told friends that the people at Amazon are, “f***ing idiots.” She doesn’t believe Amazon is a great fit for Bond, and has taken the franchise “hostage,” refusing to develop any new films under their banner.
Amazon's Jennifer Salke was tasked with dealing with Broccoli, and her description of the franchise as “content’ reportedly infuriated Broccoli. Things have soured so much that the release of a new Bond film is now in jeopardy.
Last month, a report seemingly corroborated the feud, insisting that the next film was “plagued” with script problems, casting delays, and no agreement as to which direction the franchise should take next.
Broccoli now has commitments to a “Sing Street” musical, set to hit the stage in the Summer of 2025, and Daniel Craig’s film adaptation of “Othello,” which might go into production in 2026.
The main question that should be asked is, how do you reboot James Bond for modern-day sensibilities? Who should play Bond? What direction should the story take? It seems like nobody has any answers to these pertinent questions. Amazon’s insistence to milk the the franchise has only worsened the standstill.
For months, people close to CEO David Ellison had hinted that he would leave if state AGs didn't drop their antitrust suit against the $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery merger.