What Really Drove Barbara Broccoli to Break Up With James Bond?

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In the mid-1990s, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson inherited the Bond franchise from their father, renowned producer Cubby Broccoli. Before he passed away, he offered them advice that shaped their creative choices for many years: “Make sure no one else ruins it,” he cautioned. “You can mess it up if you want to, but don’t let others ruin it.

At last, it’s someone else’s time now. Just recently, Broccoli, aged 64, revealed that she and Wilson, who is 83 and has been contemplating retirement for some years, were transferring their ownership in their late father’s EON – the company responsible for maintaining creative control over James Bond since the character debuted on screen in 1962 – to Amazon, a formidable global corporation led by a billionaire with no hair. This man is known for residing in a volcano, although in reality it’s a yacht; but the essence remains the same. The sudden move left many in Hollywood puzzled. Why would Broccoli, who had diligently protected this valuable family asset, all of a sudden decide to sell it? And to Amazon, with whom she’d been engaging in disputes since Amazon purchased MGM, Bond’s long-term residence, for $8.45 billion in 2021? Experts suggest a few possible explanations.

Theory One: After creating nine Bond movies spanning 30 years, starting with GoldenEye in 1995, Broccoli seems to have lost the drive for another lengthy Bond production. Despite her skill at handling pesky film executives, which she honed early on with MGM, there are reports that Broccoli has also grown weary of this and hit a roadblock with her new partners at Amazon. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, she called them “idiots.” This remark might have been a sign she was ready to leave. Theory Two: It’s suggested that Jeff Bezos made an offer that Broccoli couldn’t refuse. According to sources familiar with the franchise, Bezos read her quote in the Journal and immediately phoned, saying, “I don’t care about the cost, get rid of her.” This indicates that it likely cost Bezos around a billion dollars.

Two theories are being considered, yet neither fully sheds light on Broccoli’s unexpected shift in stance. Firstly, money isn’t a significant factor for her as her estimated wealth is nearly half a billion dollars. Secondly, her decision goes beyond simply parting ways with the franchise; it involves distancing herself from the entire Broccoli family, including potential successors such as Greg Broccolini (Wilson’s son) and other relatives who have been involved in the movies. As one source put it to Rambling Reporter, “Honestly, nobody understands why Barbara made this move. It just doesn’t add up.

You can find this article in the February 26th edition of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To get future issues, consider subscribing by clicking here.

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2025-02-26 21:25