BOND HALTED
Next James Bond film in chaos as Amazon clash with Barbara Broccoli who ‘brands them f***ing idiots’
The Amazon Studios boss referred to Bond as 'content', which is said to have been 'like a death knell' to Barbara
JAMES Bond bosses are embroiled in a furious standoff with streaming giant Amazon over the next big budget blockbuster.
Bond bigwig Barbara Broccoli is said to have branded them “f***ing idiots” and is refusing to greenlight the next 007 movie.
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Amazon acquired the rights to release the Bond films after buying Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio for £6billion two years ago.
But Barbara, who helms the Bond franchise with her stepbrother Michael Wilson after taking over from her father Albert, is understood to have told those around her she does not want to work with them.
Insiders said Barbara sees Bond as a “lucrative family heirloom” and said she has a “den mother over all the stunts, explosions and egos”.
They added: “Broccoli can hold Bond hostage from Amazon for as long as she sees fit.”
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Insiders claimed that Barbara’s nose was also put out of joint by Jennifer Salke, who runs Amazon Studios.
Sources said that Jennifer referred to Bond as “content”, which is said to have been “like a death knell” to Barbara.
She started working on the franchise as a teenager before taking the reins with Michael on Goldeneye in 1995.
Since then Barbara has been the definitive voice of Bond behind the scenes, greenlighting scripts and actors including the last 007 actor, Daniel Craig.
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Tensions are said to have started after Amazon acquired the rights to release the next Bond films, despite Barbara initially being keen on the deal.
The streamer went on to release reality show, 007: Road To A Million, which has teams completing spy themed challenges.
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While it failed to make an impact, they have started work on a second series next year.
The last Bond film, No Time To Die, came out three years ago and insiders said that despite actors and directors being approached for the next movie – Barbara has still not given the nod.
Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, another insider added: “She has told friends she doesn’t trust algorithm-centric Amazon with a character she helped to mythologize through big-screen storytelling and gut instinct.
“This fall, she characterised the status of a new movie in dire terms—no script, no story and no new Bond.”
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