Daniel Craig Reacts To Amazon Taking Over Creative Control of James Bond: “My respect, admiration and love for Barbara and Michael remain constant and undiminished”

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Daniel Craig has spoken up after the significant change in the James Bond series, with Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson moving aside to let Amazon MGM take over creative control. The actor, who played the famous agent in five films, expressed his gratitude for the duo’s contributions and their influence on the franchise.

Craig expressed his unwavering respect, admiration, and affection for Barbara and Michael in a statement. He wishes Michael an extended, peaceful (and rightfully earned) retirement, and he’s confident that whatever endeavors Barbara embarks on will be remarkable. He hopes to join her in these ventures.

This decision represents a crucial milestone for the James Bond series. For years, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli have been the driving forces behind the Bond films. Now, they’ve teamed up with Amazon MGM, granting the studio authority over future projects’ creative aspects. Although they will continue to be co-owners of the franchise, Amazon now has ultimate control over the direction of upcoming movies. This move follows Amazon’s $8.5 billion takeover of MGM, which previously held half-ownership of Bond but had minimal input on creative choices.

After being part of the James Bond narrative for close to six decades, Wilson announced his decision to retire, expressing that he will now concentrate on artistic pursuits and philanthropic endeavors, as his 007 career, which has lasted nearly 60 remarkable years, comes to an end in this capacity.

Broccoli, though not stepping away entirely, will be directing her attention towards new ventures beyond the Bond series. Looking back on her years guiding the franchise, she reminisced, “My career has been about preserving and expanding the exceptional legacy my father, producer Cubby Broocoli, entrusted to Michael and me. I’ve had the privilege of collaborating closely with four incredible actors who have portrayed 007 and countless talented artists in the industry.

Ever since Craig’s portrayal of James Bond in 2021’s “No Time to Die,” there’s been a lot of talk about who might step into the role next. Now, it seems that Amazon MGM will be in charge of choosing the next Bond, with names like Henry Cavill, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Kingsley Ben-Adir being tossed around. However, an official casting decision is yet to be made public.

Originally declining the role before eventually accepting it for “Casino Royale”, Craig has now shifted his focus to a different detective series, where he portrays Benoit Blanc in the “Knives Out” films. He’s set to reappear in the upcoming “Knives Out” sequel titled “Wake Up Dead Man”, scheduled for release later this year on Netflix, alongside Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Kerry Washington, and Jeremy Renner.

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2025-02-21 10:44