Daniel Craig Shares Thoughts on Amazon’s Takeover of ‘James Bond’ Franchise

Daniel Craig, a former ‘James Bond’ actor, has expressed his opinions about Amazon MGM Studios assuming creative control of the series in the wake of the announcement that veteran producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are retiring.

 Craig stated that his feelings for Wilson and Broccoli had not altered, expressing his profound regard and appreciation for both.  He expressed his belief that whatever projects Broccoli undertakes next will be amazing and said he hopes to be engaged in them. He also wished Wilson a well-earned retirement.

As part of a new joint venture, Amazon MGM Studios will now be in charge of the ‘James Bond’ movies’ creative direction, but both parties will still have ownership rights.  Amazon will be directing the franchise’s creative vision for the first time after first purchasing MGM in 2021, which gave them access to previous movies and distribution rights for upcoming releases.

Image Courtesy: Getty Images 

 The founder and executive chairman of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, has also spoken with fans on social media to solicit their opinions on the next James Bond actor.  Theo James, James McAvoy, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Idris Elba, and Henry Cavill are all well-liked recommendations.

Since Craig’s departure following ‘No Time To Die’ in 2021, Aaron Taylor-Johnson has been the front-runner for the role; reports even claim he was offered the part, though he has refrained from directly responding to the rumours. Pierce Brosnan, a former Bond actor, has also endorsed Taylor-Johnson, saying he has the charisma and talent to play the iconic role. Meanwhile, the ‘James Bond’ franchise recently made headlines because of a legal dispute involving a developer based in Dubai attempting to assert certain copyrights related to the franchise.

–Farheen Ali