Last month, Hollywood was shocked when EON Productions handed over the six-decade-spanning creative control of the James Bond franchise to Amazon MGM.
Following the tech company’s acquisition of the 007 films with MGM Studios, Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson were expected to work with Amazon on the reboot.
However, they’re now out, retired from 007, in a deal rumoured to be worth almost $1 billion.
Before the rubber hit the road, insiders claim that Amazon had suggested a few actors for the next Bond, but the Broccoli weren’t interested.
Meanwhile, Amazon’s pitches of TV spin-offs about Moneypenny, Felix Leiter and even a female 007 were hardly well received either.
This reportedly confirms the rumours that Bezos’ Amazon ended up paying up to $1 billion for creative control of the Bond franchise, and it appears the Broccoli couldn’t say no. Considering her brother Wilson is close to retirement, they killed off Craig’s 007, and the Ian Fleming novels will start entering the public domain in 10 years, she may well have thought it was time to get out with a hefty cheque while she could.