Now and then, everyone is chasing 007. James Bond movie franchise distribution rights are currently on the market, after Sony’s two-picture deal slumped, concluding with Spectre in 2015. The frontrunner for getting the rights for distributing the following Bond movies is Warner Bros., but there are also two unexpected companies that surfaced in this competition: Apple and Amazon.
Allegedly they are prepared to match and maybe even outbid the offer made by Warner. They were the newest ones to join the bidding war being led by major companies as Fox, Warner, Sony and Universal. MGM is holding the studio rights, and now that Apple and Amazon joined the war in an assertive way, Warner has to push MGM to seal the deal.
The Hollywood Reporter suggests that plans of Amazon and Apple are way bigger than only the movie franchise. Referring to James Bond as the last excellent intellectual property that was underused, Amazon and Apple seek for more than just rights for distribution. They probably set their eyes on buying or licensing the property from MGM, taking into consideration the unexploited TV potential of Bond franchise.
“In the world of Lucasfilm and Marvel, Bond feels really underdeveloped,” said an anonymous source who is familiar with the process of bidding. Nonetheless, it is likely that MGM, the rights holders, and Eon, an independent production company have their focus on the theatrical presence of Bond, as they have a deal with Daniel Craig for yet another Bond movie set which will be released on November 8, 2019.
It remains to be seen who will win the future of 007, but one thing is certain – the winner could stretch out the property and make another cinematic universe.
