Here’s an update concerning the feud between James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli and Amazon/MGM Studios head Jennifer Salke.
Last week, a Wall Street Journal report revealed behind the scenes friction that had to do with the creative direction and future of the Bond franchise. Salke has reportedly starting pushing for “Marvel-style” ideas to expand Bond, including several spinoff shows and movies. Broccoli, being the purist that she is, seemingly has zero interest in adhering to Salke’s Marvel-esque demands.
A former Amazon bigwig is telling Hollywood Elsewhere that Salke’s knowledge of Bond history is very limited, and that she’s never seen any Bond movies prior to the Daniel Craig era.
The source goes on to state that Salke considers anything made before the ’80s to be an “old movie.” She’s not interested in the classics, and never reads scripts.
You can ask people from her NBC days about this, but agents and managers [will tell you] she never read scripts. She just makes deals with name talents like the Russo brothers and greenlights crap like “Red One.” She’s not material-driven.
A seasoned writer-director additionally tells HE that two years ago Salke squashed a “Conan the Barbarian” remake from “Game of Thrones” producers, calling the project ‘toxic masculinity.”
The Bond impasse is all on her. She’s an inexperienced idiot with limited experience and unlimited resources.
How does such a person, with limited cinematic knowledge, end up overseeing a major studio like MGM/Amazon? Salke’s previous gig was as NBC Entertainment president. Under her presidency, several significant NBC shows were developed like “The Good Place,” “Master of None,” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” Her contributions as a Fox executive include “Glee,” “Modern Family,” and “Bones.” The Amazon/MGM gig is her first significant movie-related position.
Prior to his hiring in overseeing Warner Bros Pictures with Pamela Abdy, things were going along just fine at MGM when Mike DeLuca was running the show, and now it sounds like a real mess of a situation under Salke. The Bond impasse will likely carry on for a few more years, and my gut feeling tells me that, when all is said and done, Salke will end up getting her way.
Still no distributor for "Bucking Fastard," "Alpha Gang," "The Last Photograph," "Closing Night," and "The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd." The issue seems to be quality more than a lack of willingness to buy.