Legendary Bond Girl Jane Seymour issues plea to bosses after 007’s shock move to Amazon
LEGENDARY Bond Girl Jane Seymour issues a plea to bosses after 007’s shock move to Amazon.
Bond has seen off Russian terror organisations, survived dastardly villains, and narrowly escaped a host of assassins.
But now he faces his biggest threat to date — surviving Jeff Bezos’s franchise-crunching business after his Amazon MGM Studios took “creative control” of the famous spy series.
Barbara Broccoli and her stepbrother Michael G Wilson, the movies’ producers for the past 30 years, are stepping away from novelist Ian Fleming’s legendary franchise.
But many 007 fans fear for its future under Amazon — which they worry will dilute the franchise with a ton of poor-quality spin-offs and merchandise.
Those worried includes Bond Girl Valerie Leon who has previously raised concerns that the franchise will not be British anymore after Amazon's takeover.
James Bond
Valerie, 81, was a Bond girl in The Spy Who Loved Me and Never Say Never Again, alongside Sir Roger Moore and Sir Sean Connery.
She said: "The Bond franchise was very British and it won't be anymore. And obviously if they make films they won't go into the cinema."
However, legendary Bond Girl Jane Seymour has sent a huge signal to Amazon, suggesting herself for a role in a potential 007 spin-off.
Jane portrayed Solitaire a psychic who had the ability to read tarot cards alongside Roger in 1973's classic Live and Let Die.
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The one drawback to her ability was that she had to remain a virgin in order to preserve it.
Jane who was an unknown when she was cast later won an Emmy Award for playing Maria Callas in a TV movie and then became a household name playing the title role in her TV series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
Speaking to the , she expressed optimism for the iconic spy series.
She said: "I think it's great. Amazon is huge and I am sure they will have the time, the money and the interest to continue and invest in Bond."
Asked at Elton John's Aids Foundation event over her interest in appearing in an Amazon-produced Bond spin-off, she candidly replied: "Oh yes… but they will never ask me."
There are already rumours of a spin-off for 007’s faithful secretary Moneypenny, starring Florence Pugh, along with possible projects for other big MI6 characters, an animated series and straight-to-streaming flicks.
Timeline of James Bond actors
Over the years there have been seven actors who have played 007.
The first ever James Bond film was in 1962, and this is who has played the lead role over the years:
- - The late star was the first ever actor to play Bond, and reprised the role for seven movies.
- George Lazenby - The star only played Bond once, but was the youngest actor to ever play the spy.
- Roger Moore - The late movie star spent 12 years making seven films in the famous franchise.
- Timothy Dalton - The smooth actor took over from Roger Moore and appeared in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill.
- Pierce Brosnan - The handsome star played Bond for four movies from 1995 to 2002.
- Daniel Craig - The British star was the first blonde James Bond and the sixth actor to win the role in 2005.
Such is the esteem in which Bond is held that only one person could escort Her Majesty the Queen to the 2012 Olympics.
And threats to water down the legacy are likely to have grated with Barbara, 64, who insiders claimed had planned to “hold Bond hostage from Amazon for as long as she sees fit”, reported the Wall Street Journal.
Tensions were first aired publicly in December, when it was reported that Barbara told pals that Amazon studio bosses were “f***ing idiots” and she was insulted by their description of Bond as “content”.
This could have rung the death knell for the partnership, which began in 2021 when Amazon bought MGM Studios for £6.7billion to acquire the rights for its crown jewel 007, alongside the Rocky and Legally Blonde films.
However, while Barbara and Michael will remain co-owners of the Bond franchise, it is not known how much their presence will be felt in future projects.
Matthew Field, vice president of the Ian Fleming Foundation and author of two 007 books including Spy Octane, said: “It would be stupid not to lean into them for advice.
“No one on the planet understands Bond better than them — they probably know him better than Ian Fleming did. If Amazon puts the wrong people in control it will go badly wrong.
“They need a producer like James Gunn, from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC, who can see, live and breathe the character. It needs a new lease of life.”
Matthew predicts many TV projects ahead, including a period Bond, plus young, animated and spin-off Bonds following Moneypenny, M and Q, and straight-to-streaming Bond films alongside the “tentpole theatrical releases”.
Swedish mega-fan Gunnar James Bond Schafer, who legally changed his name to the character’s in 2007, said: “I’m p***ed off.
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"This was Broccoli and Wilson’s child and you don’t sell your children or abandon them, even when things get tough."
And of course what we all want to know - after Daniel Craig's departure is - who will be the new Bond?
