After 2021’s “No Time to Die” sent Daniel Craig’s 007 into the sunset, the franchise’s future fell into limbo. Months turned to years with no script, no story, and no new Bond in sight. Fans were left shaken (if not stirred), wondering if and when their favorite MI6 agent would return. Whispers grew that something was amiss at Bond’s home base as the series languished without a clear direction or a successor to the 007 mantle.
Guardians of 007: The Broccoli Legacy
For decades, the James Bond franchise has been a family business protected with almost fanatical care. Producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli co-founded EON Productions in 1961 to bring Ian Fleming’s British secret agent to the screen, and his heirs have jealously guarded Bond’s legacy ever since. After co-producer Harry Saltzman sold his stake in the 1970s, Cubby (and later his daughter Barbara Broccoli and stepson Michael G. Wilson) maintained ironclad control over 007’s adventures. Barbara and Michael officially took the reins in the 1990s, overseeing Bond’s revival in “GoldenEye” (1995) after a six-year hiatus. Over the years, they proved themselves dedicated caretakers: the Broccolis steered Bond through five decades and 25 films, yielding over $7 billion at the global box office while fiercely protecting the brand’s prestige. Under the Broccolis, Bond was not just another piece of IP to be franchised to death – he was a crown jewel of cinema. EON Productions famously avoided the Hollywood trend of endless spin-offs, crossovers, and TV adaptations. Unlike Marvel or Star Wars, there was no “Bond Cinematic Universe” filled with side characters on streaming shows. The family’s philosophy was simple: keep Bond special, eventize each film, and never let 007 become cheapened.
I Don’t Care What It Costs, Get Rid Of Her
According to The Hollywood Reporter, an incensed Bezos immediately phoned his top brass and delivered a simple directive: “I don’t care what it costs, get rid of her.”
