If Amazon had its way, they would probably have had countless James Bond spin-offs about Q, Moneypenny and Co. in development since they bought MGM three years ago – an entire 007 Cinematic Universe. But while Jeff Bezos’ online mail order company actually owns the rights to the agent franchise, there is one influential woman who retains creative control over the series: Barbara Broccoli.
Broccoli has very clear ideas about how the future of James Bond look, which some fans will certainly appreciate. Since their ideas don’t match those of Amazon at all, there will probably be delays with Bond 26.
James Bond in the Amazon crisis: The 26th film could be a long time coming
As the Wall Street Journal reported this week in a detailed report on the current Bond situation, the traditional spy film series is deeper in crisis than one could have feared. So far there is neither a script nor a concrete story idea and certainly no casting for the next 007 role. At least not one that Barbara Broccoli would approve of, whose Bond influence was passed down to her from her father Albert “Cubby” Broccoli via Eon Productions.
As the brutal report reveals, the mood between Amazon and Broccoli is said to be extremely tense. The producer should inform her confidants about the current rights holders as “fucking idiots” designated have. Furthermore, she keeps asking the question “Have you read the contract?” to the binding agreements whenever a new idea comes from Amazon headquarters that does not match their Bond ethos.
As Broccoli is said to have mentioned to her circle of friends, she has nothing against it at all a breath of fresh air in the 007 franchise. After all, she was already taking a risk with the then relatively unknown Daniel Craig (last seen in No Time to Die) when she approved him for the last generation. She also has no objection to a gay or person of color Bond – as long as he is British and a man.
Who is Bond Commander Barbara Broccoli?
Producer Barbara Broccoli has been working on the James Bond series since she was 17, doing PR for The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). Since the Pierce Brosnan era, as a key producer, she has been the Bond commander-in-chief, making creative decisions regarding 007. In this role, she likes to emphasize that she is in no hurry and refers to a quote from her father: “Don’t let temporary people make permanent decisions.”
One of their principles is that James Bond belongs in the cinema. This is why the last Bond film took so long to arrive during the pandemic. If Amazon had had its way, there would probably have been a streaming release.