According to Variety, Broccoli and Wilson have formed a joint venture with MGM to house the James Bond intellectual property rights. Though they remain co-owners of the franchise, they have ceded creative control to the studio. Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, said in a statement, “Since his theatrical introduction over 60 years ago, James Bond has been one of the most iconic characters in filmed entertainment. We are grateful to the late Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman for bringing James Bond to movie theatres around the world, and to Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli for their unyielding dedication and their role in continuing the legacy of the franchise that is cherished by legions of fans worldwide. We are honoured to continue this treasured heritage, and look forward to ushering in the next phase of the legendary 007 for audiences around the world.”
The Bond franchise has been in flux since its last star, Daniel Craig, took his final bow in 2021’s No Time To Die. With the 83-year-old Wilson’s retirement in sight, change was on the horizon. But the shocking part of this report is Broccoli handing over the reins to Amazon. In December 2024, The Wall Street Journal ran a behind-the-scenes report in which Broccoli was quoted telling people that the folks at Amazon “are fucking idiots.” Wilson’s statement on the handover seems aimed at softening that impression of his stepsister’s attitude and presenting a united front. “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. Therefore, Barbara and I agree, it is time for our trusted partner, Amazon MGM Studios, to lead James Bond into the future,” he said.
The trust with Amazon has been lacking so far. When Amazon bought the iconic MGM Studios in 2022, gaining the distribution rights to James Bond was reportedly a major draw of the investment. According to WSJ., Amazon execs had plans to “maximize content opportunities presented by MGM and the MGM library acquisition,” proposing various spin-offs and TV shows. Not only is Broccoli said to have rejected those ideas, but plans for the next Bond stalled entirely amid the feud. Though Amazon had made a commitment to releasing the Bond films in theaters during the acquisition, Broccoli reportedly still didn’t think it was a good home for the franchise “since the company’s core business is selling everything from toilet paper to vacuums—a perspective Amazon executives find unfair,” per WSJ. When Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke referred to James Bond as “content” in an early meeting, Broccoli viewed it as a “death knell,” a friend told the outlet.
And yet, somehow, she’s been convinced to let Amazon MGM Studios take over. “My life has been dedicated to maintaining and building upon the extraordinary legacy that was handed to Michael and me by our father, producer Cubby Broccoli,” she said in her own statement (via Variety). “I have had the honour of working closely with four of the tremendously talented actors who have played 007 and thousands of wonderful artists within the industry. 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.”
