Crisis Hits James Bond: Amazon and Broccoli Family Clash Over 007's Future

The James Bond franchise faces its biggest behind-the-scenes crisis in decades. Following Amazon's acquisition of MGM, the future of cinema's most famous spy hangs in the balance as tensions mount between the tech giant and the Broccoli family, longtime guardians of the 007 legacy.

Amazon's Ambitious Plans Meet Family Resistance

When Amazon purchased Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios for $8.45 billion in 2022, it gained partial control of the James Bond franchise. However, nearly three years later, fans still await news of the next Bond film, and even the identity of the next 007 remains a mystery.

The James Bond series was a crown jewel in Amazon's MGM acquisition. Yet the newly branded Amazon MGM Studios has failed to launch a new Bond adventure, primarily due to creative differences with the Broccoli family, who retain crucial creative rights to the character. Barbara Broccoli, the series' gatekeeper, revealed last autumn that neither a new script nor a new Bond actor was in place.

The relationship between Broccoli and Amazon appears particularly strained. Sources claim she privately dismissed the tech giant's executives as "idiots," highlighting the growing divide between Silicon Valley's ambitions and the franchise's traditional guardians.

Creative Control Battle Intensifies

According to an exclusive report by The Wall Street Journal, based on interviews with over twenty business partners, executives, and Broccoli family members, the conflict runs deep. Amazon executives envision expanding Bond's presence across screens, toy shelves, and theme parks, hoping to create a Marvel-style cinematic universe. However, Barbara Broccoli, 64, has historically rejected numerous TV adaptations, video game concepts, and even a themed casino project before Amazon's acquisition.

For Broccoli and her 82-year-old stepbrother Michael Wilson, James Bond transcends its impressive $7.6 billion box office earnings. They view 007 as a precious family heirloom requiring careful stewardship. Colleagues describe Broccoli as maintaining strict control over everything from stunts to explosions on set, ensuring adherence to the brand's established storytelling principles.

Unprecedented Delays and Future Uncertainty

The franchise has experienced an unprecedented pause since 2021's "No Time to Die," breaking its traditional 2-3 year release pattern established since "Dr. No" in 1962. Broccoli reportedly sees Amazon as an ill-fitting home for Bond, criticizing the company's primary business of selling everyday items. While Amazon executives disagree with this characterization, their ability to resolve the impasse remains limited as long as the Broccoli family holds creative rights.

Amazon briefly broke the silence with "007: Road to a Million," a competition show on Prime Video in November 2023. The studio has broader ambitions, including potential TV series, a Miss Moneypenny spin-off, and even an alternative series featuring a female 007. However, these plans remain in limbo as the creative control battle continues.