The next James Bond, whose new face remains a mystery, will now serve “King and Country”, its producers explained on Wednesday, who have not yet started talks with Amazon about the future of agent 007.
“We are just beginning our relationship with Amazon,” which bought the rights to the franchise from the MGM studio, Barbara Broccoli, the longtime producer of the legendary spy’s adventures, told AFP. “We haven’t started discussing the next movie yet.”
Barbara Broccoli and her half-brother, Michael Wilson, were honored Wednesday for their contribution to Hollywood, during a ceremony where they left their footprints in cement in front of the illustrious Chinese Theater.
The chance for them to keep the future of James Bond a mystery: from dying can wait in 2021, Daniel Craig’s final act, which shook up the character considerably, speculation abounds about his succession.
“We are not going to rest on our laurels and keep the same formula,” said Barbara Broccoli, heir to the franchise from her father Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, the producer who began adapting Ian Fleming’s novels for the screen 60 years ago. .
“Some Unchangeable Elements”
The choice of Daniel Craig, to embody a blond 007 and much rougher than his predecessors, had initially created controversy. But the five films made during his mission broke box office records: the play fallen from heaven in particular it generated more than a billion dollars in 2012.
To replace it, everything seems possible. Could James Bond be played by the franchise’s first black actor, as some fans would like? Or could a woman put on her costume, as Ms. Broccoli has already hinted?
The producer maintains the suspense: “there are certain immutable elements” in this spy saga, he stressed. “The main character of James Bond is the most important element of the films and we believe that he is incorruptible, that he serves the Queen, and now King and country.”
“Stay innovative”
The character “has nothing to gain from a personal standpoint. He’s in this because he’s trying to make the world safer,” he added. “I think that’s something we won’t change.”
But his father, Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, who created the franchise 60 years ago, always pushed the producer “to take risks so that Bond could change over time.” As heirs, “we like to try things, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but it keeps us innovative.”
Eon, the company of the Broccoli family, has managed to maintain significant control over the adventures of the secret agent, the protagonist of 25 films so far. Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson preside over the film destiny of 007 from golden eyereleased in 1995, a year before his father’s death.
Adapting Bond to the challenges of the world
Historically, Eon shared the franchise’s profits with the MGM studio, which had entered into a complex deal to have the right to finance and distribute the films. But MGM was acquired by Amazon in March for $8.5 billion. And when it comes to James Bond, it’s no longer the legendary studio that’s in control, but the tech giant, which has launched its own streaming platform.
Amazon Prime Video has already announced plans to produce a reality show themed around Her Majesty’s Most Faithful Servant, titled The road to the million of 007. “The public has certain expectations. But they also like to be surprised. So it’s part of our effort,” said Michael Wilson, hoping that Bond will adapt to the challenges of today’s world.
“What will be the concerns of the world in two or three years? How can we keep up?” he asked. “We can’t think about the same thing over and over again.”
Source: BFM TV
