Amazon MGM Studios and the long-time producers of the Bond brand, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, have reached a new agreement that gives agent 007 a new home, writes Deadline.
It's soon six years since the last Bond film was shot and according to consistent industry information, the long pause has been due to a conflict between Amazon MGM and the duo Broccoli and Wilson, who wanted to protect their creation and had creative control.
The distribution rights for the Bond films were included when Amazon bought the film company MGM three years ago.
Bezos asks for tips
And hardly had the ink dried on the contract before Amazon founder Jeff Bezos kicked off the debate about who should play agent 007.
In a post on X with a screenshot of BBC's news, Bezos asked his followers "Who would you choose as the next Bond?"
Judging by the comments, Henry Cavill appears to be the clear favorite, followed by Tom Hardy.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Broccoli and Wilson have opposed several proposals from Amazon MGM. They have demanded that the films must have a premiere in cinemas and had definite opinions about the plot in the productions.
Now Amazon MGM Studios takes over the entire creative control.
Long pause
"It's a great honor to continue to manage the legacy and we look forward to launching the legendary agent 007's new phase for audiences around the world", says Mike Hopkins, Amazon MGM's CEO, in a statement.
The last Bond film, "No time to die", was shot in 2019 with Daniel Craig for the last time as agent 007. Since no new actor has been presented in the lead role, the pause between films appears to be the longest since the film series began in 1962 with "Agent 007 with a license to kill".
