I think what will define what Amazon is not really the actor ( I don't think they're stupid enough to go for a woman or an American) or maybe even the director. After all the director will most likely only do one bond movie. It's the producers and the non-EON production team. By this I mean people who regularly worked on bond movies, but work for, not in EON. These are people like Lindy Hemming, Vic Armstrong , Chris Corbould and Purvis and Wade. The more of these get hired by Amazon, the closer they want to stay to the traditional Bond formula. Normally I'd ad casting director Debbie McWilliams to this list, but she has gone public and said she's going to focus on other things in the future. I would also be surprised of P&W gets re-hired, but having them write Bond26 would absolutely be as statement from Amazon.
Really, Barbara and Michael have been given a billion dollars to not make a film they were not making anyway. The alternative, then, to Amazon making films with two or three years gaps is Eon going years without any Bond film at all - and that’s if Barbara had still retained control.
I’ve been predicting this news for ten years or more.
Bond is about to be a regular staple of popular culture in a way it hasn’t been for a quarter of a century.
If they make a bad film, they will try again. Quantum didn’t kill the series after all.
Sir MilesThe Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 30,885Chief of Staff
BB & MGW were not making an Amazon Bond film…that’s clear - they even said it…both sides have practically admitted as much.
”Bond is about to be a regular staple of popular culture in a way it hasn’t been for a quarter of a century.”
How is Star Wars holding up..? How’s Lord of the Rings doing…? Both under Amazon control… I’m told some is good, most is bad 👀 although I do like what’s been done with the Reacher series…that’s trough Skydance Television though…
QoS is a fabulous film…
Wish I could get excited…but I’m not convinced Amazon have a good track record…I’ll have to wait until they show their hand though - actor, director, script, and who they employ behind the scenes…
I agree about QoS. Would take it any day over some of the more beloved 007 films of the franchise's first two decades.
But Disney owns Star Wars, not Amazon. And I'm not sure how to answer the question of how well it's doing. On the one hand The Mandelorian jumpstarted the franchise monetarily (less so creatively). The first season of Andor was pretty great to my mind. If Amazon could pull off something of that caliber with a Bond-spinoff TV show, I would be thrilled.
Amazon's handling of TLOTR has been horrible on all levels.
Amazon invested an incredible amount of money into getting Bond. They really need to make a huge splash with it. If they screw it up they will not just take a financial hit but the negative publicity would be absolutely brutal. I would think the prudent thing for them to do is focus on making the best possible theatrical Bond film and worry about the other stuff after (spin-offs, etc.). To accomplish that they will need to put together a production team that is talented but also understands Bond and of course find themselves a new Bond actor who can really nail it. Which also begs the question, will Amazon stray very far from the "traditional cinematic Bond elements? Handing it all off to Nolan would be nice but I don't know how realistic that is.
That's how I see it too. The best possible business strategy for Amazon is to make a Bond movie that first does very well in the cinemas, then at the back of that start making spin-offs and TV-series. Making the TV-series and spin-offs first will cheapen the brand and possibly weaken the James Bond movies.
I reckon we might get a documentary or 007 lifestyle TV show on Prime before a film possibly; TV content doesn't have to be a drama, those will come later.
Amazing that presumably the last Eon-overseen bit of 007 will be the next series of Road to a Million.
I think Amazon should invest a little more by employing anyone recruited to a key role on a new Bond production for six weeks dedicated only to watching, repeatedly, all 25 of Eon's Bond films and reading all 14 of Fleming's Bond books, as a compulsory condition of contract. Anyone for whom that would be too much homework shouldn't be considered.
Oh, and they should also appoint fans on sites such as this as technical advisers!
Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 53 years.
I don’t like Nolan for Bond. He’s been too overindulged by the industry and his films just ramble on for hours and hours with bad sound design. The Emperor’s New Clothes springs to mind. Bond need someone with a pedigree in set piece action sequences and practical filmmaking.
Comments
I think what will define what Amazon is not really the actor ( I don't think they're stupid enough to go for a woman or an American) or maybe even the director. After all the director will most likely only do one bond movie. It's the producers and the non-EON production team. By this I mean people who regularly worked on bond movies, but work for, not in EON. These are people like Lindy Hemming, Vic Armstrong , Chris Corbould and Purvis and Wade. The more of these get hired by Amazon, the closer they want to stay to the traditional Bond formula. Normally I'd ad casting director Debbie McWilliams to this list, but she has gone public and said she's going to focus on other things in the future. I would also be surprised of P&W gets re-hired, but having them write Bond26 would absolutely be as statement from Amazon.
I think it’s a wonderful situation: more frequent releases! No more waiting five years between films!
For that alone I’m dizzyingly excited about this.
Brosnan interview with (yuck) "Daily Telegraph"
It would be useful if all the Bond films were on Amazon Prime all the time. They seem to be there for a while and then get removed.
Not sure if this is the right thread, however it relates to the takeover and possible changes that may come from it regarding fan projects.
Has anyone noticed that Thunderballs.org, the wonderful Bond photo archive, has been down for a few days now?
I'm wondering if Amazon has shut it down. If so, this is such a shitty move considering the goldmine of preservation going on there.
Yes, I noticed it too. And until now I assumed - and still hope - that it is just a technical issue with the domain, servers etc.
Instagram: 007flavoured
Unless the films are crap…and then there are spinoffs to think about…be careful what you wish for.
But who knows, could be a shot in the arm for the franchise…or they could kill it like Star Wars 😕
Really, Barbara and Michael have been given a billion dollars to not make a film they were not making anyway. The alternative, then, to Amazon making films with two or three years gaps is Eon going years without any Bond film at all - and that’s if Barbara had still retained control.
I’ve been predicting this news for ten years or more.
Bond is about to be a regular staple of popular culture in a way it hasn’t been for a quarter of a century.
If they make a bad film, they will try again. Quantum didn’t kill the series after all.
BB & MGW were not making an Amazon Bond film…that’s clear - they even said it…both sides have practically admitted as much.
”Bond is about to be a regular staple of popular culture in a way it hasn’t been for a quarter of a century.”
How is Star Wars holding up..? How’s Lord of the Rings doing…? Both under Amazon control… I’m told some is good, most is bad 👀 although I do like what’s been done with the Reacher series…that’s trough Skydance Television though…
QoS is a fabulous film…
Wish I could get excited…but I’m not convinced Amazon have a good track record…I’ll have to wait until they show their hand though - actor, director, script, and who they employ behind the scenes…
I agree about QoS. Would take it any day over some of the more beloved 007 films of the franchise's first two decades.
But Disney owns Star Wars, not Amazon. And I'm not sure how to answer the question of how well it's doing. On the one hand The Mandelorian jumpstarted the franchise monetarily (less so creatively). The first season of Andor was pretty great to my mind. If Amazon could pull off something of that caliber with a Bond-spinoff TV show, I would be thrilled.
Amazon's handling of TLOTR has been horrible on all levels.
Yes indeed, I mentioned it to the owner on x but no reply so far, hope all's okay with him.
Yes, you are right…it is Disney that has Star Wars 🤦🏻 brain fart time 🤗
I don’t have Disney, but my friends, who have, watch it and say the hits are few and far between…
I did watch one episode of 007: Road to a Million - and that was one episode too many for me 😕
I've not watched the tv series of Jack Ryan - I believe the first series was ok…but with fast diminishing returns thereafter.
The tv series Reacher is excellent though…
I have very little faith at the moment…I just hope Amazon employ people that have worked on Bond before - not necessarily all of them…but enough.
Indeed, i was just using it as well.
Amazon invested an incredible amount of money into getting Bond. They really need to make a huge splash with it. If they screw it up they will not just take a financial hit but the negative publicity would be absolutely brutal. I would think the prudent thing for them to do is focus on making the best possible theatrical Bond film and worry about the other stuff after (spin-offs, etc.). To accomplish that they will need to put together a production team that is talented but also understands Bond and of course find themselves a new Bond actor who can really nail it. Which also begs the question, will Amazon stray very far from the "traditional cinematic Bond elements? Handing it all off to Nolan would be nice but I don't know how realistic that is.
That's how I see it too. The best possible business strategy for Amazon is to make a Bond movie that first does very well in the cinemas, then at the back of that start making spin-offs and TV-series. Making the TV-series and spin-offs first will cheapen the brand and possibly weaken the James Bond movies.
I reckon we might get a documentary or 007 lifestyle TV show on Prime before a film possibly; TV content doesn't have to be a drama, those will come later.
Amazing that presumably the last Eon-overseen bit of 007 will be the next series of Road to a Million.
That's a sad thought. Out with a whimper rather than a bang. 😒
I think Amazon should invest a little more by employing anyone recruited to a key role on a new Bond production for six weeks dedicated only to watching, repeatedly, all 25 of Eon's Bond films and reading all 14 of Fleming's Bond books, as a compulsory condition of contract. Anyone for whom that would be too much homework shouldn't be considered.
Oh, and they should also appoint fans on sites such as this as technical advisers!
Amazon should also blacklist any potential producer, director and writer who thinks the code name theory sounds like a good idea.
From Private Eye (found on Bond reddit):
Brilliant…I mean, scary and true…but brilliant 🤣
You mean Lee Tamahori doesn't stand a chance with Amazon?
That would be my heartfelt hope!
Very much my sense of humour, thank you Revelator.
damn! I thought they'd plagiarized you, Barbel!
😂
I'll take that as a compliment, @HarryCanyon, thank you very much! 😊
Love this! I reckon Mike Myers should get in on the act and start work on an Amazon-themed Austin Powers reprise.
If it was released in 2027 it would be as far apart in time from the first one as the first one was from You Only Live Twice!
I don’t like Nolan for Bond. He’s been too overindulged by the industry and his films just ramble on for hours and hours with bad sound design. The Emperor’s New Clothes springs to mind. Bond need someone with a pedigree in set piece action sequences and practical filmmaking.