Disney also wanted James Bond: Bob Iger's untold story
The rights structure itself made any negotiation very complex
Before entering Amazon's orbit, James Bond was close to changing homes in a very different way. This was revealed by former Disney CEO, Bob Iger, who in an interview with the Financial Times recounted how agent 007 was among the acquisitions considered by the company during its years of great expansion.
After bringing entities like Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm under the Disney brand, the group also evaluated the possibility of getting its hands on the famous film saga. The operation (fortunately) never went through.
A hypothesis that sparks debate... and perhaps even fear
What made any negotiation particularly complex was the very structure of the rights. Although MGM held a significant part of the property, creative control remained firmly in the hands of Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson through Eon Productions, an element that has helped preserve the franchise's identity for decades.
In subsequent years, Amazon acquired MGM, thus also obtaining the rights related to Bond. However, the debate remains open about what the fate would have been for cinema's most famous secret agent if he had ended up under Disney's control, a giant that has transformed many of its acquisitions into increasingly extensive, and unexpected, narrative universes.
For now, 007's future will instead pass through the new Amazon management, with the next film still in development and the identity of the new James Bond remaining one of Hollywood's most anticipated secrets.