It is a big year for James Bond. In just under ten days the final Daniel Craig film, No Time To Die, will be released, bringing one of the most lucrative 007 series to a close. And earlier this year MGM Studios was purchased by Amazon for a staggering $8.45 billion. On what that means for the ongoing Bond series, however, the franchise bosses aren’t quite sure.
Bond boss Barbara Broccoli revealed she “doesn’t know” where the franchise is going to go next. (Sunday Times Culture Magazine Via Female First).
She explained: “The truth is we don’t know. Until the deal is approved and we are able to get into deep discussions with them we don’t know.
“At the moment we’re not really any more enlightened about what they want to do and how they see things and how we fit in.”
In recent years Amazon has been pushing their Amazon Prime Video TV shows, sparking suggestions that perhaps a Bond TV series could be on the horizon.
This outcome, Barbara revealed, is something she hopes does not happen.
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Barbara said: “We’re hoping that they are going to want a strong theatrical line-up.
“Let us hope that’s the case, but we won’t know until later this year – or next year – what the plans are.”
She added that, thus far, MGM Studios have avoided making any kind of TV show adaptation set in the Bond universe, but based on another character.
Barbara continued: “We haven’t done that because, for us, Bond is the character – it would be like doing Hamlet without Hamlet.
“We’ve been interested in making Bond films and they take a long time to make and a lot goes into them. That’s why they’ve survived almost 60 years.
“We’ll see what the future brings, but who knows?”
Earlier this week Barbara also spoke candidly about the next actor who could portray James Bond.
A lot of debate has been had about the next potential star of the 007 series.
Currently, the top of the odds from Ladbrokes is Regé-Jean Page, who is best known for playing the Duke of Hastings in Bridgerton, with 6/4.
But the Netflix star is closely followed by Venom actor Tom Hardy, who has a powerful 5/2.
Barbara explained that, after Craig’s time as Bond, things will change for the character’s future.
Barbara said: “Daniel’s made an indelible impression, so it’s inevitable that what he brought will be, in some way, incorporated.
“We don’t have any frontrunners – we haven’t even thought about it – but whoever it is will take on the role and adapt the character to their personality. It’s always been the case.”
James Bond No Time To Die hits cinemas September 30.
