James bond some thoughts

The James Bond film franchise is currently on hiatus, with no new releases in the pipeline. The most recent installment, ‘No Time to Die,’ premiered in 2021, marking the conclusion of Daniel Craig’s tenure as Bond. Across its history, there have been a total of 24 Bond movies.

In 2022, Amazon acquired MGM Studios, integrating it with their existing studio. Once a Hollywood powerhouse, MGM was formerly part of the Big Seven studios. Now, it stands alongside the Big Five: Universal, Paramount, Warner Bros., Disney, and Sony. Interestingly, both Paramount and Warner Bros. face challenges—Paramount’s business is in disarray, while Warner Bros.’ consolidation with Discovery has hit roadblocks.

The Broccoli family has diligently safeguarded control over the Bond franchise. Danjaq holds the copyright for the film series. The first twenty Bond movies are co-owned by Danjaq and MGM, while the remainder belong to Danjaq, MGM, and Columbia Pictures (a Sony subsidiary). Eon Productions, owned by the Broccoli family, meticulously oversees all Bond projects. Their level of control rivals J.K. Rowling’s veto power over the Harry Potter franchise.

Amazon’s involvement introduces an intricate situation. Producing a new James Bond movie isn’t straightforward; it involves navigating a complex web of ownership and approvals. The intricate network across MGM presents both opportunities and challenges. Budgets are tight, and some projects face cancellation. Clearly, Bond is a costly endeavor. So far, Amazon’s impact on MGM extends primarily to the Bond franchise. Additionally, there’s a reality TV show with Bond branding, and its second season is currently in production.

Where could the James Bond Flims go next? Parodies saw Daniel Craig’s version become darker. Each actor brings a different vibe, suiting the era. It could be rebooted back to the 1960s. I’m unsure where it should go. After 25 movies maybe it should just end. Hollywood’s big problem is making everything a franchise.