Here’s why Bond producers caved to Amazon and gave up creative control

nme.com:

Amazon’s deal to take creative control of the James Bond franchise.The announcement that Amazon MGM Studios will be taking over full control of the Bond IP came yesterday (February 20), as it was confirmed that long-term producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G.

Wilson would be stepping down.According to Deadline, the deal is costing Amazon around £794.5 million ($1 billion). The move comes after the streaming giant overpaid on its original purchase of MGM, shelling out £6.75 billion ($8.5 billion) – more than double its valuation – for the movie studio in 2022.Amazon made the deal to allow them full creative command over the franchise, which they had not been able to develop freely whilst Broccoli and Wilson were still involved.

The pair took over from their father Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, who produced every official Bond film from 1962’s Dr. No to 1989’s Licence To Kill.As Deadline reports, the main factor in Amazon seeking creative control was the goal of expanding Bond into its own cinematic universe, like that of Marvel or Star Wars, which could potentially include spin-off movies and TV shows.