Inside James Bond’s Journey to Amazon: Barbara Broccoli’s Leadership, Bumping Christopher Nolan, and What It Means for Fans

In late January 2024, Barbara Broccoli watched her stage musical “Buena Vista Social Club” in New York. She was joined by Amazon MGM Studios executives Jennifer Salke, Courtenay Valenti, and Julie Rapaport. This meeting was part of ongoing talks about the future of the James Bond franchise after Amazon bought MGM for $8.5 billion. However, sources suggest that Broccoli left feeling unimpressed with Salke’s vision for Bond’s direction.

After a year of negotiations, Amazon is set to take a stronger hold on the Bond franchise, which has produced 25 films and has plenty of room for expansion into TV, licensing, and other forms of media. This deal is awaiting approval in both the U.S. and U.K. Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s executive chairman, is particularly interested in how to modernize the iconic spy for today’s audiences while keeping its essence intact.

Former Amazon Studios head Roy Price likened the situation to owning a luxury car without control over how it’s driven. He believes that, while the Broccolis have done a great job managing Bond, it makes sense for Amazon to take the wheel, especially in a complex entertainment landscape.

For years, Broccoli and her brother Michael Wilson were careful with the Bond brand. They hesitated to fully utilize its potential, which turned out to be wise given the audience fatigue with similar mega-brands. This caution came at a cost, though, as they sometimes disagreed on how to move forward, and missed opportunities arose. For example, Christopher Nolan wanted to direct a Bond film after “Tenet,” but Broccoli insisted that no director would have final cut, leading him to focus on “Oppenheimer” instead.

Despite their tight grip on the franchise, Broccoli’s caution highlights the challenges of modernizing Bond. Created during the Cold War, the character presents unique challenges when adapting to contemporary values without alienating traditional fans.

Industry experts argue that while Bond’s distinctive charm must be preserved, changing too much could meet with backlash. Peter Newman from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts warns against rushing to produce too many projects in quick succession, which could harm the franchise’s reputation.

Observers express more confidence in Amazon’s ability to create a solid Bond film rather than a TV series. While Amazon has succeeded with shows like “The Boys,” it struggled with projects that didn’t meet expectations, such as “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.” A Bond TV series might not align well with Amazon’s strengths, given its costly ventures in the past.

Insiders indicate that a film remains the main focus for Amazon regarding Bond. The studio is seeking to align with a producer who can provide a unifying vision, akin to David Heyman’s work on the “Harry Potter” franchise.

As for Broccoli, she continues her connection with Amazon, actively collaborating on a “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” remake. Even though Amazon can’t proceed with Bond until the deal with Broccoli and Wilson is finalized, interest from top talent continues to grow. Price humorously suggests that Jeff Bezos should even make a cameo as the villain’s tech support, adding a fun twist to the narrative.