James Bond Franchise Under Amazon: A New Era of 007

Image credits: Source Link

The recent news of Amazon acquiring the rights to the James Bond franchise has sent shockwaves throughout the entertainment industry, with many fans and critics expressing their concerns about the potential misuse of the iconic character. The $8.5 billion purchase of MGM by Amazon in 2021 has given the company the rights to the character, and the recent relinquishing of control by Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson has sparked fears that Bond will become a mere commodity, stripped of his essence and used to promote Amazon's various products and services.

Renowned critic Griffin Schiller has stated that the acquisition is "quite possibly the worst thing to happen to this franchise," while Timothy Dalton, who played Bond in the late Eighties, has expressed his sadness at the news. The mind of the 007 loyalist boggles at the possibilities, with some worrying that Bond will become an advocate for Amazon's delivery service, promising that packages will arrive "neither shaken nor stirred." The character might be used and abused, losing his tough guy image and becoming a mere shadow of his former self, a psychopath turned into a commodity with no regard for his original essence.

However, some argue that Bond is already dead, and that his demise occurred long before Amazon's acquisition. The character's last true iteration was in 1971, with Sean Connery's performance in Diamonds Are Forever, and all subsequent versions have been mere dilutions of the original. The films have become preposterous action movies, bearing little relation to Ian Fleming's original novels, and the character has lost his cold-hearted, ruthless killer edge. The true defilers of the authentic Bond have been at work for decades, making films that prioritize global sales over dialogue and character development.

Thriller author William Boyd, who wrote his own official Bond novel, Solo, in 2013, foresees a slew of spin-offs and merchandise, including AI-generated novels, Bond aftershave, and theme parks. While Boyd does not regard this as fresh treachery, he acknowledges that the films have strayed far from Fleming's original stories. He suggests that anyone interested in the authentic Bond should read Fleming's novels, which remain the "Bond mother lode" with all their imperfections and political incorrectness. Boyd's own work, including his new 10-part mystery, The Jura Affair, and his upcoming cold war trilogy, showcases his ability to craft compelling narratives and strong characters, and he is open to offers to make his heroine, Bethany Mellmoth, into a Bond-style franchise.

As the James Bond franchise heads into a new era under Amazon, fans and critics will be watching closely to see how the character is handled. Will Amazon be able to balance the need for commodification with the need to preserve the character's essence, or will Bond become just another commodity in the company's vast portfolio? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain - the future of James Bond is uncertain, and the stakes are higher than ever. Some of the notable Bond films include:

• No Time to Die
• Diamonds Are Forever
• Dr No
• Solo

• Timothy Dalton
• Pierce Brosnan
• Daniel Craig
• Barbara Broccoli
• Michael G Wilson