David Heyman and Amy Pascal in talks to take over as James Bond producers
With Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson out of the picture for the first time in decades after shocking the industry by relinquishing their control of the James Bond franchise to Amazon, the company is looking to start ratcheting up development on 007’s next feature-length outing.
It’s been almost four years since Daniel Craig bowed out in No Time to Die, and movement on the 26th instalment in the long-running series has been glacial, to say the least. However, Jeff Bezos didn’t spend all that money on Bond for nothing, and word has emerged that a new pair of stewards has emerged.
It was always unlikely that Amazon would treat Bond as if it were any other property, and one of the reasons why the brand has maintained its lustre is because Broccoli and Wilson were involved in the films from the ground up, shaping and steering the trajectory of cinema’s favourite secret agent.
Following in those footsteps is a daunting task, but Puck reports that Amazon has its eyes on two powerhouse producers with a proven track record of success. According to Matthew Belloni, David Heyman and Amy Pascal are the two front-runners, having reportedly entered talks to spearhead the next era of Bond.
British-born Heyman played a key role in the success of Harry Potter, and he’s no stranger to blockbusters after producing the likes of Barbie and Wonka. Pascal’s name may raise eyebrows, considering she’s been keenly involved in Sony’s steady stream of terrible Marvel movies, but she’s got 007 experience.
When she was in charge of Sony, she handled the distribution of Casino Royale, Skyfall, and Quantum of Solace, so she’s not a newcomer to the world of 007. While there’s no official confirmation as of yet, it makes sense that Amazon would want to get the ball rolling on Bond as quickly as possible, having spent a fortune to extricate it from Wilson and Broccoli’s clutches.
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