James Bond facing huge shake-up as Amazon takes over franchise in historic move

After more than 60 years in charge, the Broccoli family have ceded creative control of the James Bond franchise to Amazon MGM Studios.

Amazon acquired the rights to the 007 franchise through its parent studio Eon, founded in 1961, when it bought MGM in 2022 for $8.45billion (£6.69bn), duly forming its own studio.

However, until now, final say on key production issues would have gone to producers and half-siblings Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, children of famed Bond producer Albert ‘Cubby’ Broccoli – decisions such as casting and director, as fans eagerly await the announcement of a new Bond.

But Amazon MGM Studios and producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli have ‘formed a new joint venture to house the James Bond intellectual property rights’, it was announced today. This sees Broccoli and Wilson ‘remaining co-owners of the franchise’, but Amazon MGM Studios ‘will gain creative control’ of 007.

Wilson, 83, said in a statement to the BBC: ‘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.

Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have shepherded 007 since 1995 (Picture: Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP,)

‘Therefore, Barbara and I agree, it is time for our trusted partner, Amazon MGM Studios, to lead James Bond into the future.’

Broccoli, 64, added: ‘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.

‘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.’

They were in charge of Daniel Craig’s casting in the part, but are now ‘stepping back’ from Bond creatively as Wilson retires from films (Picture: Getty)

Albert ‘Cubby’ Broccoli (L) brought Bond to the screen, producing the franchise’s films for over 30 years (pictured with Roger Moore as Bond and Barbara Bach for The Spy Who Loved Me (Picture: Screen Archives/Getty Images)

This comes amid rampant speculation over the cause of perceived delays in the run-up to the next James Bond film, after Daniel Craig retired from the role in 2021 with No Time to Die.

While the rumour mill offering plenty of front-runners for the role, such as Aaron Taylor-Johnson, whose casting was denied in March 2024, there had only been breadcrumbs so far from the producers.

In November, they confirmed that the next Bond would be male, in his 30s and that they were open to casting a non-white actor, while in 2022 they had estimated that filming was ‘at least two years away’

But since then, sources have reported on tensions between Eon and Amazon with their approach to the franchise. In December, it was claimed that the relationship between Broccoli and Amazon had completely broken down, according to executives, business partners and friends in the know.

As the gap between 007 movies widened, with no new Bond actor yet announced, there had been reports of tensions between Broccoli and Amazon (Picture: Mike Marsland/WireImage)

Broccoli allegedly described Amazon as ‘idiots’ to friends, as per the Wall Street Journal, and reportedly said ‘don’t have temporary people make permanent decisions’. There are also claims she has expressed discontent with Bond being associated with a streamer also known for the sale of items like toilet paper.

Until now, Amazon was unable to go ahead with production without Broccoli’s go-ahead or creative okay, and reports from The Times in September alluded that there was still no script, no director and no actor in place.

The only Bond content Amazon has rolled out since its 2021 purchase has been a reality series 007: Road to a Million, hosted by Brian Cox, which will return for another season. There have also been claims by the newspaper that Amazon MGM Studios wants to expand Bond into TV and other ventures.

Eon has been in charge of the Bond movies since the 1960s and Sir Sean Connery’s first movie, 1962’s Dr No (Picture: Warner Bros/Kobal/Rex/Shutterstock)

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has wasted no time engaging with the news either, eagerly asking his followers on X who they would like to see pick up Bond’s licence to kill and slip on his tux. The deal is expected to close in 2025, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, the PA news agency has reported.

Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, said of the new move: ‘Since his theatrical introduction over 60 years ago, James Bond has been one of the most iconic characters in filmed entertainment.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is excited by the news (Picture: X)

‘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.’

During Broccoli and Wilson’s time at the helm of Eon, since 1995, they have navigated all of Pierce Brosnan’s movies as 007, as well as overseen the casting of Daniel Craig – which generated backlash at the time, only for his tenure as the spy to revitalise the character for a new generation and become the highest-ranking Bond at the box office.

Broccoli Sr. produced Bond movies for over 30 years, with the first nine co-produced by his partner and co-founder at Eon, Harry Saltzman.