James Bond Takeover By Amazon Cost Jeff Bezos $1 Billion, Wanted To Get Rid Of Old Owners 'At Any Cost'

Jeff Bezos' owned Amazon MGM Studios has reportedly shelled out a hefty sum to secure "creative control" of the popular James Bond film franchise and plans to steer it in a new direction. Daniel Craig starrer No Time To Die (2021) was the franchise's last outing. Now, a new face is said to take over the role of Agent 007 and other projects, including a female-led spinoff of James Bond, are also in the proposal stage.

The casting and hiring of directors for the future 007 projects will now be in the hands of Bezos and studio executives, leading to the centralisation of the creative decisions in their hands. Many believe that this may hurt the iconic film franchise. Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson will continue as “co-owners of the franchise", while Amazon MGM Studios will now take over “creative control" of James Bond.

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A difference of opinion on creative calls, money rules the roost

Reportedly, Bezos shelled out a hefty $1 billion to secure "creative control" of the Bond franchise. He has also been putting out names in the public to see the audience sentiment about who the next Bond should be. According to insider claims, the previous owners of the 007 franchise thought Amazon's ideas about the future movies were underwhelming, so much so that executives who pitched ideas were labelled as "idiots" for thinking of them.

But Bezos wanted to get rid of the previous owners and offered a blank cheque.

What's not changing about James Bond?

Amazon MGM Studios, which now holds the creative control of the James Bond franchise, has stated that the gender or nationality of the spy James Bond in the movies will not change in its upcoming installments. The character of James Bond will remain a man and British (or the Commonwealth), according to UK media as stated by Deadline.