Amazon Studio Head FIRED! Bond & Rings of Power to Blame?!

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On a Thursday afternoon, it was announced that Jennifer Salke, who had been leading Amazon MGM Studios for seven years, had decided to step down from her position.

As a film enthusiast, I’ve been hearing whispers that it was her choice to step away from directing, with plans to focus on producing instead. However, it seems there’s more to the story. Rumors are circulating that Amazon actually let her go, allegedly due to the James Bond deal complications and even the less-than-stellar performance of “The Rings of Power.” It’s also been suggested that Christopher Nolan may have played a role in this decision.

James Bond clash

Amazon has just acquired full ownership of the James Bond franchise, as revealed; Amy Pascal and David Heyman are set to oversee its management.

As reported by Deadline, it was her conflicts with Pascal, Heyman, and Barbara Broccoli, who have extensive experience in film production, that ultimately led to Jennifer Salke’s departure. During her tenure at Amazon, she oversaw the development of shows such as “The Rings of Power,” “The Wheel of Time,” “Reacher,” “Jack Ryan,” and “The Boys.

As per the site’s information, it appears that Jennifer Salke did not participate in the negotiations regarding the James Bond contract, which is said to have added an additional billion dollars to the existing deal valued at $8.5 billion.

As a passionate movie reviewer, I’ve learned that the creative team behind a film can make all the difference. In this case, Amy Pascal and David Heyman are said to have struck a deal with Courtenay Valenti, a seasoned executive who previously worked under Jen Salke at Warner Bros. However, it seems that Salke’s position won’t be filled, as Valenti will now report directly to Mike Hopkins, the head of Amazon MGM Studios. This move promises an intriguing shift in the studio hierarchy, one that I can hardly wait to see unfold on the silver screen!

It’s said that, in order to continue managing the James Bond franchise for Amazon, Pascal and Heyman asked to report directly to Valenti instead of Salke.

It’s been suggested that Barbara Broccoli had a strained relationship with Jennifer Salke. A recent report in the Wall Street Journal alleges that Broccoli referred to Amazon as “foolish idiots.” Rumor has it, when Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s owner, found out about Broccoli’s comments, he instructed that James Bond be acquired at any cost—and wanted Broccoli removed from the equation.

According to various sources, it was under Jennifer Salke’s leadership that Amazon reportedly aimed to redefine the James Bond series by featuring a female lead and introducing diverse characters in a manner similar to Marvel’s cinematic universe. However, whispers suggest that Jeff Bezos opposed this change, issuing a company-wide communication asserting that James Bond would continue to be British and male.

Rings of Power fades

It’s worth noting that “The Rings of Power” is sometimes mentioned as a contributing factor. Given its status as the priciest television production ever made, there have been reports suggesting that the show has experienced a significant decrease in its audience numbers. According to “Deadline”, this is the case.

The expensive “Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” series didn’t deliver spectacular improvements, leaving an executive questioning their investment return due to insufficient outcomes.

Christopher Nolan wanted by Amazon to direct

Christopher Nolan might also be a major reason behind Salke’s exit.

The deadline suggests that the dispute surrounding the theatrical premiere of “Road House” could have potentially led to her termination, as evidenced by director Doug Liman openly expressing his discontent.

It’s noteworthy that Nolan departed from Warner Bros. following their simultaneous theater and streaming release of all their 2020 productions. Now, he is said to be in the running for the position of director for Amazon’s upcoming James Bond movie.

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2025-03-28 05:01