Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder, reportedly ordered executives to buy out Barbara Broccoli’s stake in the James Bond franchise after she was quoted calling Amazon executives “fucking idiots” in a Wall Street Journal article, according to sources close to the billion-dollar deal. The alleged directive—”I don’t care what it costs, get rid of her”—came as tensions between Amazon and the longtime 007 producers reached a breaking point, The Hollywood Reporter reports.
Who is Barbara Broccoli, the “her” that Bezos wanted to get rid of
Barbara Broccoli, 64, is the daughter of legendary Bond producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli and has co-produced the James Bond franchise for 30 years alongside her half-brother Michael G. Wilson. She began working on Bond films as a teenager and inherited EON Productions after her father’s death in 1995. Under her, the franchise developed new success, particularly with Daniel Craig’s films, with “Skyfall” becoming the first Bond movie to gross over $1 billion worldwide.
Amazon paid a billion dollars to buy James Bond franchise from Broccoli
Sources say Amazon ended up paying close to a billion dollars to acquire the franchise from Broccoli and her half-brother Michael G. Wilson, who had maintained tight creative control over the iconic spy series for 30 years following their inheritance of EON Productions from their father, legendary Bond producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli.
The relationship between Amazon and the Bond producers had been fraught since Amazon’s $8.5 billion acquisition of MGM in 2022, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. While Amazon executives reportedly hoped to expand the franchise into television series and spinoffs, Broccoli and Wilson remained firmly opposed to such developments.
“We just try to focus on making good pictures, and it takes time,” Wilson had stated previously, expressing reluctance to delegate creative control for television content. His half-sister was even more direct, saying Bond TV shows were “not something we’ve ever wanted to do.”
Future of 007 uncertain under Amazon’s ownership
Sources indicate Amazon had pitched several spinoff ideas, including shows centered on MI6 secretary Moneypenny and Bond’s CIA ally Felix Leiter, but repeatedly faced rejection from the producers who held contractual creative control over the franchise, according to The Hollywood Reporter’s investigation.
Wilson’s retirement was reportedly a significant factor in Broccoli’s decision to sell, as she no longer wished to face studio battles alone. With no Bond film in production since “No Time to Die” wrapped six years ago, and no new actor cast to replace Daniel Craig, the franchise had stalled.
The sale has prompted concern among Bond fans, who fear Amazon might dilute the brand with excessive content, The Hollywood Reporter notes. Industry observers note that while Amazon’s removal of the Broccoli-Wilson stewardship ends their sometimes rigid control, it also eliminates decades of institutional knowledge about crafting successful Bond films.
