Less Dangerous

by

Last week’s announcement of Jennifer Salke leaving Amazon MGM Studios is believed to be due to several significant setbacks or underwhelming performance metrics during her tenure as studio head. Yet, it has also been speculated that one potential reason could be her proposed plans for the franchise, which reportedly deviated so drastically from expectations that they delayed the recent sale of the franchise’s creative rights to Amazon.

When Amazon purchased MGM Studios and thereby gained control of the James Bond franchise, it’s said that there was a strained dynamic between established James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli and Salke. This resulted in discussions about James Bond negotiations happening between Broccoli and Salke’s superior instead of Salke herself. Reportedly, Broccoli expressed that she was not motivated by Salke or her ideas for 007.

According to Variety’s report, this situation resulted in the Bond franchise standing still since Daniel Craig’s final appearance in No Time to Die in 2021. This stagnation was not favorable for Amazon, as a valuable intellectual property like Bond being idle could mean a significant loss of income. Regardless of any other issues Amazon had with Salke, her apparent inability to manage such a crucial asset effectively contributed to her resignation.

As a movie critic, I found myself cringing at Sally’s suggestions for the future of Bond. Her ideas to tone down the violence in order to make him less dangerous, suitable for TV shows and video games, were far from the mark. It’s clear she hasn’t experienced the thrill of playing classics like GoldenEye, Nightfire, or Everything or Nothing – games that have earned their place among all-time greats.

Her vision seemed to be one of sanitizing Bond, transforming him into a generic NBC drama-style spy. Thankfully, Amazon didn’t bite and neither did the fans. We want our 007 raw, uncut, and ready for action!

What Do Fans Want from the ‘James Bond’ Franchise?

As a dedicated fan, it’s challenging to predict day by day what fans might expect from a widely recognized IP like James Bond. Overhauls are often met with resistance, while sticking to familiar patterns can lead to criticisms of repetition and lack of freshness. Yet, after over six decades, the James Bond franchise has seldom been dull or predictable.

It’s still unclear where the James Bond franchise will head next, as Daniel Craig’s portrayal of Bond was grittier and less humorous than the movies starring Pierce Brosnan, who often used puns and innuendo, much like Roger Moore did in his era. In fact, Craig’s version is similar to Timothy Dalton’s take on the character from the late 1980s. It remains unknown if the next set of Bond movies will return to a more light-hearted approach or continue with the darker tone. What we do know, however, is that Amazon appears to be planning to broaden the franchise by producing spinoffs in addition to the traditional series of films.

Read More

2025-03-29 20:04