Amazon, which acquired the rights to the iconic spy series in 2022, had been attempting to create multiple spin offs around the character “so watered down” that Broccoli said would turn the brand into a “woke disaster” according to a friend of the 64-year-old producer.
Do you Expect me to go Woke, Mr. Bond?
Amazon executives had pitched a number of bizarre ideas to cash in on the Bond franchise for its Prime Video service. A few of their insane pitches included a spinoff anime cartoon featuring Bond’s secretary Miss Moneypenny, a gadget-themed game show hosted by John Cleese titled ‘Q’, and an untitled project featuring a Black female 007.
Broccoli, who maintains full creative control over all things Bond, has shot down all the ideas and has grown increasingly frustrated with the streaming services not understanding the essence of the series.
“These people are f**king idiots,” Broccoli reportedly told friends when describing executives at Amazon.
A true Bond girl herself, Broccoli is known for her fiery temper and unwavering dedication to the franchise. But the new regime seems determined to squeeze every last drop of profit out of her Majesty’s secret service, leaving little room for the artistic vision that has defined the series for generations.
No, I expect your franchise to die!
The dispute has led to a power struggle of epic proportions, with Broccoli resisting demands to modernize Bond, fearing it will dilute the franchise’s signature blend of sophistication and sin.
A staunch defender of the classic Bond formula, Broccoli is reportedly horrified by the prospect of seeing the man with the golden gun grapple with issues of social justice and political correctness.
“She’s worried it will alienate the core audience,” explains a source who worked on classics like Octopussy and Tomorrow Never Dies. “Bond has always been about glamour, danger, and international intrigue, not diversity and inclusion lectures. Fans expect escapism, not a heavy-handed social commentary.”
Broccoli is known to have an especially tense relationship with Jennifer Salke, a former NBCUniversal executive who was brought in to run Amazon Studios in 2018.
According to insiders, Broccoli was irate when Salke referred to the legendary James Bond series as “content” that the company wanted to offer for distribution on “various digital platforms’.
Shaken, Not Stirred
The studio, however, insists that modernizing the franchise is essential to its survival. They argue that a more inclusive and relevant Bond will resonate with a wider and more diverse audience and ensure the series remains culturally significant in the 21st century.
Insiders say that Broccoli’s disagreements with Amazon have reached the point where she is willing to hold the film “hostage” and delay the release of a new Bond sequel. There hasn’t been a Bond film in three years, one of the longest gaps in the series’ 50 plus year history.
