The next James Bond will be in the service of His Majesty “the King”, according to its producers

MISE À DAY

LOS ANGELES | The next James Bond, whose new face still remains a mystery, will now serve “King and country”, explained its producers on Wednesday, who have not yet started discussions with Amazon on the future of agent 007.  

“We are just starting our relationship with Amazon”, which bought the rights to the franchise from the MGM studio, Barbara Broccoli, the historical producer of the adventures of the spy with legendary phlegm, told AFP. “We haven't started discussing the next movie yet.”

Ms Broccoli and her half-brother, Michael Wilson, were honored Wednesday for their contribution to Hollywood, at a ceremony where they left their footprints in the cement in front of the illustrious Chinese Theater.

James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli shows her hands during a handprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California.

The opportunity for them to maintain the mystery of the future of James Bond: since Dying can wait in 2021, the final act of Daniel Craig, which has considerably shaken up the character, speculation is rife about his succession.

“We are not going to rest on our laurels and keep the same formula,” assured Ms. Broccoli, heiress to the franchise of her father Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, the producer who began adapting Ian Fleming's novels to the screen 60 years ago.

The choice of Daniel Craig, to embody a blonde 007 and much rougher than his predecessors, had initially created controversy. But the five films made during his mission set box office records: the opus Skyfall in particular generated more than a billion dollars in 2012.

To replace it, everything seems possible. Could James Bond be played by the franchise's first black actor, as some admirers would like? Or could a woman put on her costume, as Ms. Broccoli has already hinted?

The producer maintains the suspense: “there are certain immutable elements” in this saga of espionage, she underlined. “The main character of James Bond is the most important element in the films and we believe he is incorruptible, serving the Queen, and now King and country.”

< p>“Stay innovative”

The character “has nothing to gain from a personal point of view. He's in it because he's trying to make the world safer,” she added. “I think that's something we won't change.”

But her father, Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, who created the franchise 60 years ago, always pushed the producer “to take risks so Bond could change over time.” As heirs, “we like to try things, sometimes it works, sometimes not, but it allows us to remain innovative”.

Eon, the Broccoli family business, has managed to maintain control important on the adventures of the secret agent, star of 25 films so far.

Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson have presided over the cinematic destiny of 007 since GoldenEye, released in 1995, a year before their father died.

Michael Wilson

Historically, Eon shared the profits of the franchise with the MGM studio, which signed a complex agreement to have the rights to finance and distribute the films.

But MGM was acquired by Amazon in March for 8, $5 billion. And concerning James Bond, it is no longer the legendary studio that is in control, but the tech giant, which has launched its own streaming platform.

Amazon Prime Video has already announced its intention to produce a reality TV show about Her Majesty's most trusted servant, titled 007's Road to a Million.

“Audiences have certain expectations. But he also likes to be surprised. So it's fully part of our effort,” said Michael Wilson, hoping that Bond will adapt to the challenges of today's world.

“What will be the worries of the world in two or three years? How can we stay up to date?” he asked. “We can't come up with the same thing over and over again.”