Daniel Craigis not only the last man to play the role ofJames Bond, but, it seems, the last to play the super spy under the creative control of long-time producersMichael G. WilsonandBarbara Broccolias Amazon MGM take full charge of the franchise. Now the actor has added shared thoughts in a statement in which he acknowledged the legacy of the character, and his unchanged feelings for Wilson and Broccoli despite the unexpected turn of events.
In a statement published byVariety, Craig said:
“My respect, admiration and love for Barbara and Michael remain constant and undiminished. I wish Michael a long, relaxing (and well deserved) retirement and whatever ventures Barbara goes on to do, I know they will be spectacular and I hope I can be part of them.”
The Future of the ‘James Bond’ Franchise Is Getting Its Biggest Shake-Up Ever
The news broke earlier today that, after six decades, the Bond franchise will no longer have a Broccoli working behind the scenes, and Amazon MGM Studios will now be taking over complete control of the Bond IP from Wilson and Broccoli. 87-year-old Wilson has worked as both a writer as well as producer on many Bond movies, but announced that he will be retiring from the industry following the news. He said,“With my 007 career spanning nearly 60 incredible years, I am stepping back from producing the James Bond films to focus on art and charitable projects.”
Meanwhile, 64-year-old Broccoli, who took over the Bond torch from her father, Cubby Broccoli, will continue to produce outside the Bond franchise. She said:
“My life has been dedicated to maintaining and building upon the extraordinary legacy that was handed to Michael and me by our father, producer Cubby Broccoli. I have had the honor of working closely with four of the tremendously talented actors who have played 007 and thousands of wonderful artists within the industry. With the conclusion of ‘No Time to Die’ and Michael retiring from the films, I feel it is time to focus on my other projects.”
Needless to say, the overall feeling around the shocking and completely unexpected curveball has taken many by surprise, especially considering how resolute Broccoli has been in the past aboutpreserving and protecting James Bond. However, in recent weeks it has become clear that there was a lot of unrest behind the scenes, with Amazon being well aware of the massive IP potential “going to waste.”
Amazon’s Jeff Bezos Asks Social Media Followers To Choose the Next James Bond, Which Should Go Over Great
Just hours after Amazon MGM took control of James Bond, Jeff Bezos is already soliciting his followers to pick the next 007.
Now, the future of the franchise is wide open to the whims of Amazon, and that will certainly not mean just one movie every few years. Amazon was recently reported to be looking atmaking the Bond franchise more appealing to a younger audience, but what that means in real terms is anyone’s guess. All that is for certain, is that James Bond has never faced a challenge like the one that is now facing him in this brave new world.
James Bond
