Amazon MGM Studios will reportedly pay long-time James Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli around $1 billion for creative control of the franchise. The news comes after Broccoli’s public criticisms of Amazon’s expansion plans for the Bond universe, which have simmered since Amazon’s $8.5 billion acquisition of MGM. The streaming giant wants to push Bond towards a Marvel or Star Wars-like franchise with TV series, spin-off films, and other related properties — while Broccoli and Wilson preferred to concentrate on making blockbuster theatrical films. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos didn’t wait long to comment after news broke yesterday. “Who’d you pick as the next Bond?” he asked his Instagram followers. The last Bond film was Daniel Craig’s 2021 finale, No Time To Die. (Variety)
