James Bond Writer Warns Amazon Could Be Terrible For 007
Shaken, not stirred. These are the immortal words of the world’s most famous secret agent, James Bond. But since a James Bond writer warns Amazon could be terrible for 007, chances are things could be stirred up.
Most recently played by Daniel Craig, 007 has been on the big screen for the better part of a century. Since Craig took over in 2005, there have been a total of four James Bond films released in the last decade and a half – Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, and Spectre. No Time to Die was also initially slated to hit the silver screen in 2020. Still, Covid is delaying the film multiple times.
Well, get ready for the number of Bond films to skyrocket, as Amazon has high hopes for the super spy.
Amazon’s Plans for 007
Amazon recently purchased MGM Studios, and with it, they got access to every piece of IP that MGM holds – James Bond included.
But many think this purchase could hurt the legacy of Bond, including someone very close to it.
John Logan, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter who worked on both Skyfall and Spectre, says the Amazon purchase of MGM makes him worried for the future of the Bond film franchise.
“Having worked as a writer on Skyfall and Spectre, I know that Bond isn’t just another franchise, not a Marvel or a DC. Instead, it is a family business that has been carefully nurtured and shepherded through the changing times by the Broccoli/Wilson family,” said Logan.
Who Currently Owns The Bond Empire?
The Broccoli and Wilson family still owns half of the Bond Empire even after the purchase. Amazon, at the time of sale, promised them ongoing artistic control.
However, Logan thinks things could change in a hurry in the future.
Why a James Bond Writer Warns Amazon Could Be Terrible For 007
“What happens if a bruising corporation like Amazon begins to demand a voice in the process? And what happens to the comradeship and quality control if an Amazonian overlord with analytics parses every decision? What happens when a focus group reports they don’t like Bond drinking martinis? Or killing quite so many people? And that English accent’s a bit alienating, so could we have more Americans in the story for marketability?” He said.
There is a lot of truth to those statements. Amazon is a major corporation that has made its owner, Jeff Bezos, the richest man. Bezos made things more straightforward and more agreeable to the average consumer.
Suppose they made online shopping convenient and are constantly listening and improving due to customer feedback. Would they not try to do the same thing with the Bond franchise?
Background on Amazon’s Creative Input
Amazon is a global tech company, not a movie studio with the artistic integrity of movies, characters, and directors at the forefront of their minds. So while they are currently saying that creative license remains with the Broccoli and Wilson family, things could change. For example, what happens if a Bond movie underperforms after the tech giant throws tens of millions of dollars at it?
Right now, it might not seem like a big deal for Bond to change a little and perhaps become a bit more of a product and a bit less of a character. But, still, it is a beautiful concept at stake and not just the character itself.
Giant companies are buying up movie and film studios left and right, and any IP that could make them money is most likely being bought as you read this.
Why It Matters That A James Bond Writer Warns Amazon Could Be Terrible For 007
While these companies are promising one thing right now, people rely on multibillion-dollar corporations to not go back on their word. Thus, maintaining the integrity of film and television seems like a losing cause.
For now, Bond looks like he will be alright. With Broccoli and Wilson still in the driver’s seat for creative control, No Time to Die looks like it will be another excellent addition to the Bond catalog.
But people like John Logan are worried about the direction that movies are going in, and he is not alone.
“Please let 007 drink his martinis in peace. Don’t shake him, don’t stir him,” Logan concludes.
