Following the surprising news of Amazon assuming full creative control of the James Bond franchise, with long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson stepping aside, a new report details the franchise's next steps—and reveals a surprising rejection of a high-profile director.
While speculation swirls about a potential Bond TV series, Variety reports that a new Bond film remains Amazon's top priority. Their first move will reportedly be to secure a new producer. David Heyman, known for his cohesive vision on the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, is allegedly the type of producer Amazon seeks.
The report also claims that Christopher Nolan expressed interest in directing a Bond film after Tenet, but Broccoli, maintaining her then-unyielding control, refused, insisting no director would have final cut authority under her leadership. Nolan subsequently directed Oppenheimer, a nearly $1 billion global box office success, which earned him and the film accolades including Best Director and Best Picture Oscar nominations.
Fan anticipation for the next Bond is palpable. While Tom Hardy (Venom), Idris Elba (MCU), James McAvoy (Professor X), Michael Fassbender (Magneto), and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kraven)—previously rumored as a frontrunner—all have their supporters, Henry Cavill (Superman, The Witcher) is the clear fan favorite.
According to Variety, Amazon cannot begin hiring for the Bond role until the Broccoli-Wilson deal concludes, expected sometime this year. This follows a report alleging the James Bond franchise is currently "on pause" due to a reportedly contentious stalemate between the Broccoli family and Amazon.
The behind-the-scenes conflict between Barbara Broccoli, who previously held creative control and sole authority over casting the iconic British spy, and Amazon—which acquired the rights to distribute Bond films after its $8.45 billion acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 2021—allegedly left the Bond franchise in a precarious position, according to the Wall Street Journal.
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