The renowned James Bond film franchise is currently embroiled in a dispute over its future direction, with Barbara Broccoli, the series' producer, and tech behemoth Amazon at odds.
Amazon, which purchased the rights to the franchise from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios for a staggering $6.5 billion in March 2022, has expressed interest in creating a female spinoff of the series.
According to The Post Millennial, Broccoli, who inherited the rights to the James Bond franchise from her late father Albert Cubby Broccoli, holds all approval rights for the franchise. She has reportedly been resistant to Amazon's proposals for the next film or potential TV series. Broccoli's frustration with Amazon executives is palpable, as she was quoted saying, These people are f*cking idiots.
Amazon's proposed ideas included a female 007 spinoff series for their streaming service, focusing on Miss Moneypenny, the secretary of MI6 spy chief M. However, Broccoli dismissed this suggestion. The tension between Broccoli and Amazon's leadership has reportedly escalated to the point where she is considering delaying the release of a Bond sequel.
In a 2021 interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Broccoli stated, I think [the next James Bond] will be a man because I dont think a woman should play James Bond. I believe in making characters for women and not just having women play mens roles. She further emphasized her commitment to creating meaningful roles for women, saying, I dont think there are enough great roles for women, and its very important to me that we make movies for women about women. He should be British, so British can be any [ethnicity or race].
Daniel Craig, who retired from the role of Bond following 2021s No Time To Die, echoed Broccoli's sentiments. He questioned in a 2021 Radio Times interview, "Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?"
Discussions have also reportedly taken place about the possibility of a gay or person of color assuming the role of Bond, an idea Broccoli appears open to. Speaking to the Girls On Film podcast in 2021 about the potential for Bond being "non-binary" and using they/them pronouns, she said, "Who knows? I mean, I think it's open. We just have to find the right actor." This ongoing dispute underscores the complexities of modernizing a beloved franchise while respecting its traditional roots.
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