Daniel Craig breaks silence after Bond producers give...

Craig offered his ‘respect, admiration and love’ to the producers. Daniel Craig has issued a statement after the surprise news that James Bond producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, handed over complete creative control of the franchise to Amazon MGM Studios.

On Thursday (20 February), Amazon announced it had forged a new joint venture with Broccoli and Wilson to hand over the James Bond intellectual property rights. While the two will remain co-owners of the franchise, the transaction leaves creative control of all future productions in the hands of Amazon.

Broccoli and Saltzman launched the Bond films in 1962 before Broccoli’s daughter and stepson took over. The Broccoli dynasty, cemented in the family’s UK-based production company EON, is responsible for the franchise’s most successful films, including Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, and Skyfall.

Craig, who stepped down as Bond after 2021’s No Time To Die, has now responded to the sudden change about Bond’s future. After the news was announced, Wilson said: “With my 007 career spanning nearly 60 incredible years, I am stepping back from producing the James Bond films to focus on art and charitable projects. Therefore, Barbara and I agree, it is time for our trusted partner, Amazon MGM Studios, to lead James Bond into the future.”.

Broccoli added: “My life has been dedicated to maintaining and building upon the extraordinary legacy that was handed to Michael and me by our father, producer Cubby Broccoli. “I have had the honour of working closely with four of the tremendously talented actors who have played 007 and thousands of wonderful artists within the industry. With the conclusion of No Time to Die and Michael retiring from the films, I feel it is time to focus on my other projects.”.

Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios said in a statement that the company was “honoured to continue this treasured heritage” and is looking forward to the “next phase of the legendary 007 for audiences around the world”. The new deal comes amid mounting speculation over the fate of the British spy franchise with almost four years passing since the last film. The series has gone silent in recent years, with no formal plans for the next movie or any recruitment of the next Bond actor being announced.