For over six decades, the Broccoli family has held an iron grip on everything 007, from his drink of choice to the very actors who’ve embodied him. That era is now coming to an end. In a landmark deal with Amazon MGM, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have ceded creative control of one of Hollywood’s most valuable franchises, marking a dramatic shift in how James Bond will be developed and produced going forward.
A Franchise in Limbo Forces Amazon’s Hand
The timing of this shake-up is no coincidence. Since 2021’s No Time to Die, Bond has been in cinematic limbo. There’s no script, no director, and no leading man to fill Daniel Craig’s tux. Informal meetings with talent have taken place, but no real progress has been made. With Amazon spending $8.5 billion to acquire MGM in 2021, largely because of its Bond ownership stake, the streaming giant has grown impatient watching its crown jewel collect dust.
Hollywood has long speculated about friction between the Broccolis and Amazon. The family resisted Amazon’s push for expansion beyond feature films, while Amazon executives grew frustrated with the glacial pace of development. The Broccolis did greenlight a Bond-themed reality show, 007: Road to a Million, but little else materialized. Now, this new joint venture gives Amazon MGM a freer hand in shaping Bond’s future while the Broccolis step back.
What’s Next for 007?
Amazon’s involvement could mean a fundamental reimagining of the franchise. In an era dominated by expansive cinematic universes, there’s speculation that Bond could follow the Marvel or Star Wars model with TV spinoffs and origin stories. Will we see a Moneypenny prequel series? A deep dive into Q’s world of gadgets? Or a No Time to Die spinoff led by Ana de Armas’ CIA agent Paloma?
Jeff Bezos himself fueled speculation by crowdsourcing fan opinions on who should be the next Bond shortly after the deal was announced. Industry analysts agree: Amazon’s deep pockets and aggressive expansion strategy make it likely that Bond won’t just be limited to feature films anymore.
Hollywood’s Biggest IP Up for Reinvention
The decision to loosen the Broccolis’ grip comes at a pivotal moment for franchise filmmaking. Unlike Marvel, DC, or Star Wars, Bond has avoided oversaturation. The Broccolis have long resisted spin-offs and excessive merchandising, focusing instead on meticulously crafted tentpole releases. But that strategy has clashed with Hollywood’s demand for high-output, multi-platform storytelling.
For Amazon, the Bond franchise represents its best shot at achieving box office dominance. The company has struggled to deliver consistent theatrical hits, despite high-profile releases like Red One and The Tomorrow War. With a library that lacks globally recognized IP, Bond is its strongest asset in competing with Disney, Warner Bros., and Universal.
A Future Without the Broccolis
As Amazon takes charge, one major question remains: Who will steer the ship? Other massive franchises have central figureheads—Kevin Feige at Marvel, Kathleen Kennedy at Star Wars, and James Gunn at DC. Amazon’s film chief Courtenay Valenti has experience with global franchises from her time at Warner Bros., but whether she’ll take full control of Bond remains to be seen.
For the Broccoli family, this transition marks the end of an era. Michael G. Wilson, at 82, has announced his retirement. Barbara Broccoli, 64, is turning her focus toward Broadway and prestige film projects. The family has long been protective of Bond’s legacy, sometimes clashing with studio partners who wanted more creative input. Their departure raises both opportunity and uncertainty—will Amazon honor the tradition of Bond as a sophisticated, slow-burning franchise, or will it push for a rapid-fire, franchise-first approach?
A License to Expand
What’s clear is that Bond is entering a new phase—one where storytelling speed, audience engagement, and franchise expansion will be paramount. Amazon’s playbook suggests that James Bond may no longer be a once-every-five-years event. Instead, we could be looking at a Bond universe, filled with prequels, spin-offs, and serialized storytelling designed for both theaters and streaming.
The days of waiting half a decade for a new Bond film may be over. Whether that’s a good thing or not depends on how Amazon executes its new license to build.
