Former Bond producer Barbara Broccoli is supportive of the course that Amazon MGM Studios is taking the newest franchise installment. After acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve was introduced to be helming the subsequent characteristic (which would be the first official Bond movie minus the Broccoli household having inventive management), Broccoli stated throughout podcast “Kermode on Movie” that she is “thrilled” for Villeneuve moving into the director’s chair.
“He’s a incredible filmmaker, I’m thrilled he’s going to be doing it,” Broccoli instructed UK movie critic Mark Kermode throughout his podcast, as reported by Deadline.
Earlier in 2025, longtime Bond producers and half-siblings Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson introduced that Amazon MGM Studios would have full inventive management of the IP, with the duo exiting their everyday position. The deal was a reported $1 billion; each Wilson and Broccoli will stay co-owners of the franchise, nonetheless. Villeneuve was introduced because the director in June 2025. Whereas a lead star has but to be named, it has been rumored that Jacob Elordi, Tom Holland, and Harris Dickinson are within the working.
It appears Broccoli has taken an enormous step again from Bond as an entire. “You already know, I did it for 44 years and I beloved each minute of it, however I’m getting up there now and there’s loads of issues I wish to do, like this lovely musical,” she stated, citing the difference of “Sing Avenue” which she is producing. “I’m doing loads of different issues. I’ve different motion pictures I wish to make and different stage reveals.”
Broccoli added that she desires to concentrate on initiatives that characteristic youthful, rising stars. “I at all times say I obtained my love for motion pictures from my father [producer Albert R. Broccoli] and my love for the stage from my mom [actress Dana Natol]. I grew up with ardour for each, and expertise… that’s the factor that will get me excited, whether or not it’s movie or stage expertise, notably once you meet younger folks and also you see them and also you see a possible.”
After Broccoli parted with Bond, Hollywood as an entire reacted. Oscar-winning “Conclave,” “All Quiet on the Western Entrance,” and “Ballad of a Small Participant” filmmaker Edward Berger beforehand instructed Selection that he’s not concerned with directing a Bond movie after the Amazon deal was introduced.
“Barbara Broccoli is not doing it and he or she is on the coronary heart of this undertaking, so I believe it’s one thing completely different,” Berger stated. “I don’t know. Issues have modified. We will definitely miss her very a lot. … Now it’s a special equation. I don’t know what the longer term goes to appear to be. I’m going to consider it if anybody calls me, however Barbara is on the coronary heart of this. If she is not there, it turns into a special factor.”
Former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, although, instructed The Telegraph that the deal was “the fitting choice for Barbara and Michael” and was additionally an act of “braveness” for the duo. “It takes nice braveness for them to let go,” Brosnan stated. “They may nonetheless have a say in issues. I hope that [Amazon] handles the work and the character with dignity and creativeness and respect.” Brosnan additional admitted that Amazon MGM’s new management of the franchise “does include a sure lament.”
He added, “Historical past has been handed on and I’m very proud to have been a part of the historical past and the legacy of Bond and the films that I made with Barbara and Michael. That we moved the needle, that we introduced it again to life. It had been dormant [for] six years and ‘GoldenEye’ was so successful that it continued and went from power to power. … You already know, every part adjustments, every part falls aside, and I want them nicely.”