Amazon MGM Begins Work on “Fresh, Exotic” James Bond Reboot in London
The future of James Bond is officially in motion, and it’s looking decidedly unfamiliar. With filming prep underway in London, Amazon MGM has lifted the curtain—if only slightly—on what they’re calling a “fresh, exotic new chapter” for Britain’s most bulletproof cultural export.
The announcement was made during CinemaCon in Las Vegas, where Amazon MGM’s Courtenay Valenti and Sue Kroll took to the stage to tease what’s coming next for the franchise. “We are committed to honoring the legacy of this iconic character,” they said, “while bringing a fresh, exotic new chapter to audiences around the world.”
This marks the first major statement from the studio since it quietly assumed creative control over the 007 brand earlier this year. And while much remains under wraps, including the identity of the next actor to don the tux, the studio’s message was loud and clear: change has already begun.
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Out with the Old, In with the Bold
The tectonic shift behind the scenes began when longtime Bond custodians Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson announced they would be stepping back from the driver’s seat. Their decision paved the way for Amazon MGM to take the wheel, armed with a new vision and two seasoned producers to execute it: Amy Pascal and David Heyman.
Pascal, the former Sony executive behind the Spider-Man revival, and Heyman, architect of the Harry Potter series and 2023’s Barbie, were handpicked by Valenti to spearhead the next era of 007.
Though absent from the Las Vegas stage, their presence loomed large. “They’re both in London getting started and couldn’t be here tonight,” Valenti noted, “but we wanted to thank them for what we know to make an incredible partnership.”
A Reboot with Everything to Prove
With Daniel Craig having holstered the Walther PPK for good in No Time To Die (2021), speculation has swirled like gun barrel graphics about who will fill his impeccably tailored shoes. No casting news has emerged—yet—but Pascal and Heyman’s involvement suggests Bond’s next outing will be big, ambitious, and quite possibly surprising.
In a joint statement, the producers described their approach with reverence and readiness: “James Bond is one of the most iconic characters in the history of cinema. We are humbled to follow in the footsteps of Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson who made so many extraordinary films and honored and excited to keep the spirit of Bond very much alive as he embarks on his next adventure.”
That spirit may well be about to undergo its most radical reinvention in decades. With Amazon’s 2021 acquisition of MGM for $8.5 billion, the streaming giant moved from the shadows into the spotlight—finally gaining enough clout to do more than merely distribute Bond’s back catalogue. Now, with a new producing duo and a clean creative slate, the next Bond is being sculpted from scratch.
