Amazon MGM Studios is taking creative control of the James Bond franchise.
Transcript:
Conway Gittens: The James Bond movie franchise was already in the hands of the Amazon MGM Studios, but now the iconic spy series will be totally under the studio’s creative control.
In what is being described by Hollywood insiders as a stunning shake-up, current co-owners Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli will retain intellectual property rights, but the direction of the franchise will now fall entirely on the shoulders of Amazon MGM Studios.
Amazon and its billionaire founder, Jeff Bezos, bought the famed MGM Studios back in 2022 for $8.5 billion. The deal gave Amazon the rights to distribute Bond films but creative control remained with siblings Wilson and Broccoli, who inherited it from their father.
A statement from the head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios praised the two “for their unyielding dedication and their role in continuing the legacy of the franchise that is cherished by legions of fans worldwide. We are honored to continue this treasured heritage, and look forward to ushering in the next phase of the legendary 007.” Bezos immediately asked his nearly 7 million X followers: “Who’d you pick as the next Bond?”
That is the biggest question facing the future of the franchise. Daniel Craig stepped back from the role in 2021, and a new actor has yet to be named. James Bond has been a movie favorite for over 60 years, raking in more than $7 billion at the global box office.
Turning to financial markets, stocks were down on Thursday. Defense stocks like Palantir were slammed on fears a proposed cutback in U.S. defense spending will hurt business. Meanwhile, gold prices touched a record high, within shooting distance of $3,000 an ounce.
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