Last month, the movie world was left shaken and stirred by the news that Amazon MGM had taken creative control of the James Bond franchise, with long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson — who've both been working on 007 features since 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me — stepping back to pursue other creative and charitable pursuits, ending an era in British cinema in the process. Now, per THR's reporting, we're learning that industry veterans Amy Pascal and David Heyman, producers of the Spider-Man and Wizarding World franchises respectively, have struck a deal to guide everybody's favourite double-oh agent into a bold new era.
“We are approaching every creative decision with James Bond, which Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have so masterfully steered, with the greatest sense of responsibility,” Amazon MGM Studios’ Head of Film, Courtenay Valenti, said in a statement accompanying the announcement of Heyman and Pascal's new partnership. “Part of an elite group of producers who have developed and managed massive film franchises to box office success and critical acclaim, Amy Pascal and David Heyman are two of the most accomplished, experienced, and respected film producers in our industry. We are honored to be working with them on James Bond’s next chapter and are excited to deliver to global audiences storytelling that upholds the impeccable legacy of this beloved character.”
Added Pascal and Heyman in their own joint statement, "James Bond is one of the most iconic characters in the history of cinema. We are humbled to follow in the footsteps of Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson who made so many extraordinary films and honoured and excited to keep the spirit of Bond very much alive as he embarks on his next adventure.” What exactly that next adventure will look like is anybody's guess at this moment in time, as the ending of Daniel Craig's last Bond outing No Time To Die left MI6's finest in a not altogether very alive state, and though whispers about future Bond castings have been rife in the years since Craig's departure, Broccoli and Wilson always remained very tight-lipped about what would lay ahead for author Ian Fleming's iconic creation. In fact, to date, the only concrete new Bond material we've had since NTTD has been 2023’s adventure reality series 007: Road To A Million, and that strangely placed yet stunningly done Bond tribute at the Oscars earlier this month.
While we wait to see what Heyman and Pascal will do with their newfound license to thrill, the duo have no shortage of projects incoming. Heyman is hard at work on HBO's Harry Potter reboot at the moment, while Pascal has the small business of Spider-Man 4, Beyond The Spider-Verse, and Spider-Noir to attend to at present — as well as Greta Gerwig's upcoming Netflix Narnia joint. Whatever happens next though, you can be sure we'll all be watching. Now, we're off for a Vodka Martini while we spitball ideas for Amazon's first Bond film. Live And Let Prime, anybody? No? Fine...