“James Bond” star Daniel Craig reacted to the information that longtime “Bond” producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have yielded inventive management of the British franchise to Amazon MGM — an announcement some followers concern will change it eternally.
“My respect, admiration and love for Barbara and Michael remain constant and undiminished,” mentioned Craig, who embodied Bond within the 5 newest installments, in a assertion Friday to Entertainment Weekly.
“I wish Michael a long, relaxing (and well-deserved) retirement,” the English actor continued, “and whatever ventures Barbara goes on to do, I know they will be spectacular and I hope I can be part of them.”
Ian Fleming’s beloved Bond novels spawned some of the enduring movie franchises of all time. For greater than half a century since Sean Connery’s debut as 007 in “Dr. No” (1962), Broccoli and Wilson’s household has protected it from company management.
However the longtime custodians of the franchise introduced Thursday that Amazon MGM has acquired inventive management. Broccoli and Wilson will reportedly stay co-owners of the franchise however are formally stepping again.
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Broccoli and Wilson initially acquired the “Bond” rights from their late father, producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, who died in 1996. Wilson, now 83, informed Selection in an announcement that he’s stepping again “to focus on art and charitable projects.”
His sister, 64, likewise mentioned: “My life has been dedicated to maintaining and building upon the extraordinary legacy that was handed to Michael and me by our father. With the conclusion of ‘No Time to Die’ and Michael retiring … I feel it is my time to focus on my other projects.”
The siblings’ bulletins have left lifelong “Bond” followers apprehensive that Amazon MGM might try and lure Prime Video subscribers in with a flurry of TV spinoffs, diluting the legacy of the franchise.
The Wall Avenue Journal reported final yr that Broccoli was feuding with the studio over its inventive ideas and even known as them “fucking idiots.” The rift seemingly started after Amazon spent $8.5 billion to accumulate MGM, which distributes the movies.
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Craig, whom Broccoli and Wilson personally solid as Bond for his 2006 debut in “Casino Royale,” starred in 5 “Bond” films, together with 2021’s “No Time to Die.” Whereas he was swish in his assertion Friday, devoted followers of the long-lasting cinematic sequence weren’t mincing phrases.
“It’s kinda sad to see the last family-owned movie franchise handed over to the suits, and I’m sure Amazon MGM is salivating, BUT…DON’T cinematic universe James Bond,” wrote filmmaker Joe Russo on X, previously Twitter. “It’s one of our last, great theatrical events.”
He continued: “Don’t dilute that with a plethora of streaming spin-offs.”
