e die Amazon’s MGM buyout won’t keep the James Bond movies from theaters, according to the franchise’s producers.
In a statement to Variety, Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson affirmed they are “committed to continuing to make James Bond films for the worldwide theatrical audience” following Amazon’s $8.45 billion purchase of MGM. While the studio has the rights to financing and distributing the James Bond movies, Broccoli and Wilson’s Eon Productions maintains creative control over the films’ marketing and casting decisions.
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The next James Bond movie, No Time to Die, is scheduled to premiere theatrically this fall and will mark Daniel Craig’s fifth and final appearance as the secret agent 007. Directed by Cary Fukunaga, No Time to Die has seen it release date change multiple times in response to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In Oct. 2020, it was reported that Apple TV+ and Netflix had even started a bidding war to land the streaming rights to the movie. Ultimately, however, a deal failed to transpire.
Under the conditions of their agreement, MGM is expected to continue focusing on developing theatrical releases for Amazon and, in doing so, compliment its output on Amazon Prime. In addition to No Time to Die, MGM’s 2021 slate includes the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect and the animated sequel The Addams Family 2. The studio is also a co-producer on Nia DaCosta’s Candyman, a spiritual sequel to the 1992 slasher horror classic that’s set to open near the end of August.
The official synopsis for No Time to Die reads as follows,
In No Time To Die, Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
Directed and co-written by Cary Fukunaga, No Time to Die stars Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Rory Kinnear, Léa Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, Jeffrey Wright, Ana de Armas, Dali Benssalah, David Dencik, Lashana Lynch, Billy Magnussen and Rami Malek. The film arrives in theaters Oct 8.
Source: Variety
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