The family behind the James Bond film franchise gives Amazon the green light to make another film, citing deep disagreements over the series' direction, including a proposed TV spin-off starring a female 007. It is reported that he is refusing.
Barbara Broccoli, the 64-year-old daughter of the late Albert “Cubby” Broccoli of Queens, a film producer who acquired the rights to British novelist Ian Fleming’s famous spy story, has said that since the emails were published, He has been in conflict with Amazon executives. -The retail giant acquired Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios in March 2022 for $8.5 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Her frustration with Amazon has reached the point where she is willing to hold the movie “hostage” and delay the release of a new Bond sequel. The magazine reported.
“These people are really stupid,” Broccoli reportedly told a friend about Amazon executives.
A Bond movie hasn't been released in three years, making it one of the longest droughts since the series began with “Doctor Martin.” No” 1962.
Broccoli has maintained an iron grip on 007, approving everything from the script to who the next Bond will be, after Daniel Craig dropped his famous tuxedo in the previous film, No Time to Die. Maintained.
Amazon executives have floated a number of ideas to monetize the Bond brand with their Prime Video service, including a series starring Miss Moneypenny, the secretary to MI6 spy chief M. Justin. Also includes spin-offs.
There was also talk of casting a woman as the next 007, and more diverse options, including a gay or black male lead.
According to the magazine, Broccoli rejected the idea of a female Bond, but said he was not opposed to a gay or non-white actor being cast in the role.
She insists that anyone who takes her job is British.
Broccoli and his 82-year-old brother-in-law Michael Wilson run Aeon Productions, a London-based shop that produces Bond films.
The relationship between the Broccoli family and Amazon is a collision of two worlds. One is rooted in old-school 20th century “guts” filmmaking, and the other is steeped in a tech-centric reliance on algorithms and streaming statistics. journal.
Mr. Broccoli and Mr. Wilson are also said to be upset that they have been slow to get access to meetings with Amazon executives, a far cry from the days when MGM chiefs were readily available. The paper reports that.
The Post has reached out to Aeon and Amazon for comment.
Broccoli reportedly has a strained relationship with former NBCUniversal executive Jennifer Salke, who was brought in to run Amazon Studios in 2018.
The paper said Broccoli was upset that Salke referred to the James Bond series as “content” that the company wanted to provide to the public.
A friend of Ms. Broccoli's told the Journal that Ms. Broccoli considers Bond a sacred heirloom, and that using sterile terms like “content” is like a “death omen” to her. Ta.
Since Amazon acquired MGM, the company has only produced one Bond film. It's 007: Road to a Million, a reality TV show where teams compete in spy-themed challenges.
The show sparked a debate within Amazon about Bond and his place in modern society.
A male spy who is a womanizer and uses violence to achieve his goals clearly weighs heavily on some Amazon employees, one of whom reportedly said in a strategy meeting: I don't think James Bond is a hero. ”
Mike Hopkins, who heads Prime Video's business, is said to have told employees he was confident he could earn Broccoli's trust.
