James Bond actress Valerie Leon has raised concerns that the franchise will not be British anymore in the wake of Amazon MGM Studios taking creative control over the 007 character. Eon Productions, run by Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli – who have produced the franchise since the death of Albert “Cubby” Broccoli – are set to remain co-owners with Washington-based Amazon MGM Studios, which has offices in London.
There has been increasing speculation about the future of the series, with no announcement of a new actor to play the famous spy since Daniel Craig’s final portrayal in 2021’s No Time To Die. In 2022, Amazon acquired MGM, including the rights to distribute James Bond films – and will now have control of the intellectual property rights.
Wilson will leave film work behind to “focus on art and charitable projects”, while Broccoli is going to do “other projects”, the duo said. Leon, 81, was a “Bond girl” in the films The Spy Who Loved Me and Never Say Never Again, alongside Sir Roger Moore and Sir Sean Connery.
She told ITV’s Good Morning Britain that it does not worry her as “life changes, and everything moves on and changes”. Leon added: “The Bond franchise was very British and it won’t be anymore. “And obviously if they make films they won’t go into the cinema… everything is so changed now, it just won’t be the same and I’m very old-fashioned anyway.”.
Since the first 007 movie Dr No in 1962, the official Bond film franchise has been controlled by members of the American-British Broccoli family, either single-handedly or in partnership with others. A statement on Thursday said the Broccoli family and Amazon MGM Studios “have formed a new joint venture to house the James Bond intellectual property rights, and those parties will remain co-owners of the franchise”.
“Under the terms of the new venture, Amazon MGM Studios will gain creative control of the James Bond franchise following closing of the transaction,” the statement added. London-raised Broccoli and her half-brother Wilson have produced the last nine Bond films, including Casino Royale, Quantum Of Solace, Spectre and No Time To Die.
They have been honoured with CBEs as British-American citizens and won the outstanding British film Bafta for 2012’s Skyfall along with director Sir Sam Mendes. In 2023, they brought out the spin-off Bond Prime Video game show 007: Road To A Million fronted by Succession actor Brian Cox – which is set to return for a second series.
Shortly after the deal was announced, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos stuck a post on Instagram, asking his followers: “Who’d you pick as the next Bond?”. There have been reports in the Wall Street Journal previously about disagreements between Broccoli and Amazon MGM Studios over creative control, and claims the company wants to expand Bond into TV and other ventures.
