James Bond’s Biggest Challenge: Fighting Off Amazon!
If you haven’t been paying attention, a seismic shift took place recently regarding the James Bond 007 movie franchise. The two Producers who controlled all creative decisions for the franchise were forced out!
A quick bit of history: in 1996, Producer Barbara Broccoli took over the reins from her father Albert R. Broccoli, who co-produced the films with Harry Saltzman from the beginning until 1975, when Broccoli became the sole producer.
Broccoli, along with her half-brother Michael G. Wilson, who collectively have been called “the heart of and soul of the franchise,” took over in 1996 and have run the 007 movie franchise with an iron fist ever since.
And then the company was purchased by Amazon. So when Wilson recently announced his retirement from the series, he left Broccoli to battle against 007’s new owner, Jeff Bezos!
That’s Broccoli fighting off Amazon’s Alligators…did you know that’s a real stuntman running across those live gators in “Live And Let Die?” Bravo!
After the purchase, things were strangely quiet, and it became clear something was wrong: the Bond movie franchise was frozen in place, no new 007 was announced to replace Daniel Craig, and it turns out there was a reason….
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos was determined to get rid of 007 Producer Barbara Broccoli, even telling his staff he wanted her gone, “no matter how much it costs,” according to The Hollywood Reporter!
Bond’s Producers Get Whacked!
Here’s the story of why Bezos wanted Broccoli gone.
It’s interesting that I can’t find a single picture of Bezos with Broccoli, considering how valuable a franchise Bond was – and Hollywood wondered aloud why it had been so long since the last Bond film, 2021’s “No Time To Die.”
After all, the film was a smash hit, grossing $774,153,007 worldwide, making it the third-highest-grossing James Bond film of the 25 released.
Well, word began to spread that Amazon wanted to take the franchise in a direction that Broccoli objected to, and she wasn’t getting along with the creative team there.
Broccoli was quoted as calling Amazon executives “f—-ing idiots” in the Wall Street Journal in December, and THR reports that was the last straw for the billionaire, who told his underlings:
“I don’t care what it costs, get rid of her.”
No one has confirmed that Bezos said that, but shortly after, word came out that Barbara was taking a new role in the company that left her with NO creative input or control going forward….
As THR reported:
“The Amazon CEO was clearly not at all sentimental about the half-siblings’ shepherding of the Bond IP, though Broccoli and Wilson took over and closely ushered it back to success after their father’s death in 1996. Fans, crew members, and stars credit the siblings for 007’s reemergence as a box office juggernaut, particularly since reinvigorating the character by casting Daniel Craig as the seventh Bond.”
And here is apparently what Bezos has in mind for Bond:
“Amazon’s vision for 007 is also markedly different from the one that Broccoli and Wilson had held for decades, which spurned prequels and TV spinoffs and eschewed the Marvel-esque universe Amazon hoped to create with the characters.”
It was indeed a lifetime ago when Sean Connery donned the Tuxedo and uttered the immortal line:
“Bond. James Bond.”
That was in 1962 and the world was never the same. THR goes on to say:
“With Broccoli out of the way, Amazon is free to do what it will, which already seems to be repelling top Hollywood talent from ever engaging with the franchise. Oscar-winning Conclave director Edward Berger told Variety that he was “100 percent” interested in directing for the franchise—until it was sold to Amazon. “Barbara Broccoli is no longer doing it and she is at the heart of this project, so I think it’s something different,” he said.”
The fear is that the Bond franchise will see spin-offs, TV shows focused on other characters in the franchise – rumors already of a TV series focused on Miss Moneypenny and one focused on CIA Agent Felix Leiter, and a “relaxing” of the quality of the 007 films…we will see but Bond fans are understandably nervous.
We’ll see what’s announced next, and until then, fans like me can find comfort in this:
That’s how it all started…Sean Connery uttered the iconic line and it’s been a great ride ever since! While the first film didn’t have all of the signature elements in place yet, it was still a wildly entertaining start! Here’s my review of “Dr. NO!”
Yes, I am re-watching and reviewing every single Bond film in order – looking at what’s held up, where they went wrong, and where we are now…that includes what many consider the greatest 007 film of all time – by the “one and done” Bond!
Yes, it was the only time George Lazenby played the Secret Agent with a “License To Kill”, but it’s a masterwork!
See my review here:
One other aspect of the series that gets passionate debate are the theme songs!
As you can see, putting the best Bond theme songs in order is a parlor game – oh and this list isn’t right – a shocking slight on the great “License To Kill” for example…here is a great mashup of them all!
If you like these stories, why not sign up to receive emails whenever I post? It’s easy to do, I do NOT collect any information about you at all, there are absolutely NO ads of any kind, just stories about movies, music, food, travel and pop culture…
You can sign up by clicking on my blog here and see the note on the right!
Let me know your thoughts on what’s going on with 007 and if you like this story, please share on social media!
Categories: 70's Cinema, 70's Music, Action Films, Art, British Cinema, Cult Movies, Film Fight Club, Great Films, Hollywood, Movies, Music, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities, True Hollywood Mystery
johnrieber 
Sad!
LikeLike
this is such bad news for the franchise, and as you suggested, I also fear it will devolve into less than quality spinoffs and who knows what? as you know, I’ve been watching the whole series again, and tomorrow I’ll be watching the very last one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great points, and I don’t know about you but rewatching them all was fun and exhausting, and honestly the last ones are just TOO dour for me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve had a blast and yes, these last ones have really gone dark.
LikeLike
Although I have never really cared anything for the JB film franchise, the way this Amazon takover has set the Internet alight is fascinating. It goes to show that Bond films might just have the most dedicated and passionate fans of all-time!
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 2 people
True Pete it has really gotten attention!
LikeLiked by 1 person
As I read your post Shirley Bassey’s ‘Goldfinger’ for some reason is sounding in my ears. . . shall go back and look at all your previous writings and remember . . . but think I just may avoid the name if and when I see it in the days to come . . .
LikeLike
Oh this is so depressing. How many stories in one week’s time can I read about Bezos ruining something. First it was the Wash Post, now Bond. Ugh. Yes, John, I bet the spin-offs will be coming along any day. How much $$$$ can we milk from this baby? 😡😡😢😢😢
LikeLike