How Will Amazon’s Involvement Affect The Next Bond?

Investment in a beloved media franchise is usually welcomed with open arms: more money secures the future of a film or TV series, while opening up the production side of things to new locations and larger-scale shoots. Of course, this isn’t always the case – and we’re watching the fallout of Disney’s investment in Doctor Who in real time. So the news that another British media staple has been bought out by an American streaming giant has been met with trepidation to say the least.

We’re of course talking about Amazon’s $1 billion investment in James Bond which made headlines last week, with the streaming/tech/delivery giant revealing it had clinched ‘creative control’ from the franchise’s long-time stewards, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson. The news follows Amazon’s £6.68 billion investment in MGM in 2021, which incorporated all of the Bond films into its catalogue alongside 4,000 more movies and 17,000 TV shows. Around that time, however, reports surfaced that Broccoli and Wilson were sparring with Amazon, resisting further investment – meaning this new deal has surprised insiders across the industry.

But here we are: Amazon officially has control of Bond. Here’s what it means for the future of the franchise.

What Does Amazon’s Investment Mean For James Bond?

New Films

It’s been four years since Daniel Craig’s final Bond performance in No Time to Die landed in cinemas, and with no production work underway on the franchise’s next instalment, it looks like the gap between films is set to be Bond’s longest ever hiatus. But this fresh $1 billion investment will inject some new vim into Bond production.

A New Bond

Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, Daniel Craig: who next? It’s only a matter of time before the new spy is selected so production on Bond 26 can get underway.

Rumours are once again swirling, speculating which leading man might take on the timeless role. Topping the bookies’ ballots are James Norton and Theo James, jumping above long-time favourite Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Other stars in the mix include Henry Cavill, Josh O’Connor, Callum Turner, Jack Lowden, Harris Dickinson, Paul Mescal, Lucien Laviscount and Stuart Martin.

While most stars deny – and even laugh at – implications they might be the next Bond, Cavill has a real connection to the role: he was on the shortlist for Casino Royale back in 2005, with the job eventually being given to Craig. A budding star in his early twenties, Cavill was ultimately considered too young. Now aged 41, he may be in his prime: Dalton debuted as Bond aged 41, Brosnan aged 42, and Moore aged 45.

When Amazon boss Jeff Bezos asked his X followers on who they want to see as Bond, Cavill was a front-runner. Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, Michael Fassbender and Taylor-Johnson were also popular votes.

Who’d you pick as the next Bond? pic.twitter.com/u7nBaRROlf

— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) February 20, 2025

No More British Bond?

Some fans and even former Bond stars have expressed concern that letting Americans take the James Bond wheel spells the end of the franchise’s distinguishing Britishness. ‘The Bond franchise was very British and it won’t be any more,’ former Bond girl Valerie Leon told Good Morning Britain last week. ‘And obviously, if they make films they won’t go into the cinema… Everything is so changed now, it just won’t be the same and I’m very old-fashioned anyway.’

While most of this refers to the quintessentially British vibe of Bond (he’s a spy for the British Secret Service, after all), there are also fears that the iconic role will be passed onto an American actor. It’s worth noting that only four of the six Bonds so far have been British: George Lazenby is Australian, while Pierce Brosnan is Irish.

Streaming Only

Leon touches on another fear there: no more Bond in the cinema. There’s no certainty on this, but fans are running with the fact that Amazon Prime is primarily a video streaming service. It’s worth remembering, however, that plenty of Amazon and MGM films still premiere in the cinema before they’re moved onto Prime Video, with recent examples including Saltburn and Foe. With a huge box office track record, we’re sure these rumours don’t hold water.

As David Zaritsky, the man behind YouTube channel Bond Experience, told The Guardian, ‘Many fear that they’re going to take the films to online streaming et cetera. I don’t think that’s going to happen. What I think they could do is create satellite mini-franchises around the characters, a series about Moneypenny, a series about Q that feeds into the movies every two years, for example. I think it’s a resuscitation of the franchise and I’m looking forward to the next steps.’

Spin Offs & TV Series

Disney has done it with Star Wars, Netflix plans to do it with Narnia, and Amazon has already done it with Lord of the Rings – so why wouldn’t the streamer take Bond and whip it into a plethora of spin offs and TV series? Last year, Amazon dipped its toe into this world with a reality series – 007: Road to a Million – so we think it’s only a matter of time.

Indeed, after thanking Broccoli and Wilson for their ‘unyielding dedication’ to Bond, Amazon’s head of Prime Video Mike Hopkins said: ‘We are honoured to continue this treasured heritage, and look forward to ushering in the next phase of the legendary 007 for audiences around the world.’ While ‘the next phase’ naturally refers to the next star to portray the iconic spy, we think those three simple words are charged with much more…

WATCH

All 25 Bond films are available to stream on Prime Video.