Amazon Paid Barbara Broccoli $1 Billion to Exit Bond Franchise

If you’re wondering how much it took to convince Barbara Broccoli to let go of her beloved Bond family business, how does a cool $1 billion sound? (via Deadline)

On top of that $1 billion, back in 2022, Amazon had originally overpaid its purchase of MGM for $8.5 billion, the hefty sum no doubt spurred by gaining the rights to the 007 franchise. The problem was that Amazon couldn’t nab creative control of Bond because Broccoli was micromanaging every step of the creative process. And so, it took another $1 billion to get her out of the way.

Amazon wanted the whole enchilada, and that comes with a Bond franchise which spawned 25 movies, totaling $7.6 billion in worldwide receipts, but what most fans fear is Amazon/MGM treating Bond as “content,” rather than a prestigious movie franchise that has had every detail, from martinis to tuxes, micromanaged by the Broccolis for the better part of 50 years.

It’s not like a new Bond movie was in the works anyways. Puck’s Matt Belloni confirms that there was nothing Bond-related in serious development at Eon. Broccoli had met with actors, but “there was never any real movement” to cast anyone as the next 007. There was no script, no director and not even a clear direction as to where to go next with the franchise.

In fact, one person who spoke to Barbara recently about Bond said she has been genuinely stumped about how to replace Craig after five creatively and financially successful films together. Broccoli was even questioning how the next iteration of the character should look and act. Not a sign of enthusiasm.

In a all likelihood, Broccoli was worn down, not just by Amazon, but by the creative process. According to sources, she believed she set the bar too high with the five Daniel Craig movies, which included two great Bonds (“Casino Royale” and “Skyfall”), and the last instalment (“No Time to Die”) managing to earn an impressive $790M worldwide in 2021, just as theaters were reopening from COVID.

Although Broccoli will still be getting a percentage in whatever gets released under the Bond name, and might remain as creative consultant, this deal is comparable to George Lucas selling Star Wars to Disney for $4 billion and disappearing. No more family control, and Big Tech taking over a beloved film franchise.