The James Bond franchise needs a new home for rights to make more films. Sony’s deal with them has expired, and Warner Bros. is in the lease to gain the rights. Apple and Amazon have joined the race, however.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Apple and Amazon have no issues spending as much as Warner Bros., and possibly more. MGM has been trying for two years to strike a deal. Sony, Universal Studios, and Fox have also shown interest.
Apple and Amazon’s emergence shows how much value the Bond franchise holds. It is one of the last franchises to remain untouched. Marvel, Lucasfilm, and Pixar all have exclusive deals with streaming platforms.
Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht are working hard to win the rights for Apple. Both made a move from co-presidents of Sony Pictures Television to executives for Apple recently. The decision was shocking. Sources close to THR say the franchise is valued to be anywhere between $2 billion and $5 billion.
Sources also say that Chinese companies might take interest in both filming and licensing rights, which would be a huge deal. Someone familiar with the scenario stated, “In the world of Lucasfilm and Marvel, Bond feels really underdeveloped.”
The iconic franchise has little in the way of competition. Their style of storytelling and character development is unique. Lucasfilm was bought out by Disney in 2012, but James Bond is still partially owned independently. The lack of platform diversity leaves the franchise open for more uncharted creative avenues in the future.