We still don’t know who the next James Bond will be, but 007’s new owners, Amazon MGM, say they are hard at work on the next film in London and that they will offer a “fresh” take on the franchise and honour the “legacy of this iconic character.”
The Bond anthem Goldfinger welcomed guests into the Colosseum Theatre in Las Vegas for Amazon MGM Studio’s first ever appearance at CinemaCon – heightening anticipation – but there was very little Bond news in an otherwise star-studded showcase for the streaming giant.
Since 1962, James Bond movies have been controlled by the notoriously protective Broccoli family. It shocked many fans and industry insiders when producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson agreed earlier this year to sell creative control of the franchise to Amazon – reportedly for $1bn (£760m).
Many expected the new producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman to appear at CinemaCon to divulge some details of their plans for James Bond amid rife speculation that Amazon will churn out prequels, spinoffs, and origin stories galore.
But in a nearly two-hour presentation – Ben Affleck, Ryan Gosling, Chris Pratt and Halle Berry all showcased new films – Bond was barely a blip.
Chris Hemsworth – who many speculate is in the running to become James Bond – was there to show off Crime 101, a thriller focused on robberies along Los Angeles’ 101 Freeway.
In their presentation, Amazon MGM executives Courtenay Valenti and Sue Kroll mentioned James Bond only in passing, commenting: “We are committed to honouring the legacy of this iconic character while bringing a fresh, exotic new chapter to audiences around the world alongside Amy and David.”
They added they wished Pascal and Heyman could be in Las Vegas with them, but that they were hard at work in London. “They’re both in London getting started and couldn’t be here tonight, but we wanted to thank them for what we know to make an incredible partnership,” the pair said.
Valenti and Droll then moved on to showcase Masters of The Universe
Pascal and Heyman are behind two of the most successful franchises in film history, Spider-Man for Pascal and Harry Potter for Heyman.
Amazon MGM showed off many other films, including Ryan Gosling’s space epic Project Hail Mary in which he play’s a reluctant astronaut tasked with saving humanity.
And Chris Pratt showcased Mercy while strapped to a chair on stage, spoofing his film about an AI justice system which is judge, jury and executioner and gives him 90 minutes to prove he didn’t kill his wife.
As movie theatres struggle to bring in audiences and as many consumers stay home and watch YouTube, Amazon MGM executives repeatedly told the crowd they were committed to the theatrical experience.
Mike Hopkins, the head of Amazon MGM and Prime Video, said they remained bullish on cinema and that they planned to make 15 movies a year by 2027 and that they already have 14 films ready to release in 2026.
“This really speaks to our belief in the future of the theatrical film business,” he said.
Credit: BBC