By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 16 seconds ago
In 2022, Amazon paid a cool $8.5 billion to buy MGM, giving them the rights to release future films in the James Bond franchise. However, there has been no real news about the superspy’s next appearance, and we now know that this is because the longtime rights holders and producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have clashed with Amazon over Bond’s future. Broccoli reportedly believes Amazon execs are “f***ing idiots” over their plans to make a bunch of Marvel-style James Bond spinoffs, and not only is she right, but the delay she caused is arguably going to save this franchise from its own excesses.
Broccoli Turns Rotten Towards Amazon
According to the Wall Street Journal, Broccoli is the chief cause of this James Bond delay, refusing to develop new films in the franchise with Amazon because she hates their entire approach. Not only is she annoyed that the company wants to turn this beloved cinematic franchise into a hodge podge of TV and movie spinoffs, but she is miffed that they refer to Bond’s future adventures as “content.” And while not every film released under Broccoli is a winner (Spectre, for example, was a hot mess), it’s clear that her obstinance is keeping Amazon from ruining one of the world’s greatest franchises.
James Bond Delay Preventing MCU-Type Disaster
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been interconnected from the very beginning, of course, with Nick Fury crashing the post-credits sequence of Iron Man. However, you could argue that the beginning of the end for this franchise (or, at least, the beginning of the superhero fatigue that transformed The Marvels into a big-budget flop) began with the attempt to cram as much spinoff content into Disney+ as humanly possible. The release of James Bond films is seen as a major movie event, and this delay will keep that from being cheapened with a bunch of crappy TV shows.
Speaking of which, it’s almost impossible to discuss the future of James Bond on Amazon without discussing how that company has handled Lord of the Rings. Only 37 percent of Rings of Power viewers watched the entire first season, and on Rotten Tomatoes, the Popcorn meter shows that audiences have given the show a dismal 49 percent rating. The second season was a bit better than the first, but the fact that more people stream The Boys is an indicator that this spinoff has failed to impress general audiences even as it drove away Tolkien purists for making arbitrary changes to the lore.
Broccoli Stands Strong Against Amazon
It’s impossible to know everything about what James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli is thinking about Amazon, but what we do know indicates that her delay is keeping her legendary character from facing the same problems that Marvel and Lord of the Rings faced. It’s clear that thinking of awesome franchises as “content” and churning out a bunch of spinoffs that nobody asked for is the quickest way to dilute the brand and drive viewers away. And doing so right when a new Bond actor is cast may doom the franchise to failure it hasn’t known since Licence to Kill became the lowest-grossing Bond film in America.
Ironically enough, it wasn’t that long ago that the biggest fight over this franchise was which talented actor (or perhaps even actress) would replace Daniel Craig in the title role. Now we know that something much worse could happen to James Bond than bad casting… without this delay, he might have already been transformed into soulless content designed to do nothing but sell action figures and streaming members. Fortunately, Broccoli stepped in, and she might be our last defense against enduring a bunch of Bond spinoffs even worse than the fourth season of The Boys, and for that, we’re eternally grateful.
Source: Wall Street Journal
Conclusion
In conclusion, the delay in the James Bond franchise is a blessing in disguise. It has given the franchise a chance to avoid the mistakes made by Marvel and Lord of the Rings, and it has given Barbara Broccoli a chance to stand strong against Amazon’s plans to dilute the brand. The franchise will be better off for it, and we can only hope that Broccoli’s obstinance will continue to save James Bond from the clutches of corporate greed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is Barbara Broccoli refusing to work with Amazon?
A: Broccoli is refusing to work with Amazon because she hates their approach to the James Bond franchise, which involves turning it into a hodge podge of TV and movie spinoffs.
Q: What is the future of the James Bond franchise?
A: The future of the James Bond franchise is uncertain, but it is clear that Barbara Broccoli is determined to keep the franchise from being ruined by Amazon’s plans.
Q: Why is the delay in the James Bond franchise a good thing?
A: The delay in the James Bond franchise is a good thing because it gives the franchise a chance to avoid the mistakes made by Marvel and Lord of the Rings, and it gives Barbara Broccoli a chance to stand strong against Amazon’s plans to dilute the brand.