Yesterday, I read the news that Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli would step down as creative leaders of the 007 Franchise. As stated:
Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson
Amazon MGM Studios, Wilson and Broccoli have formed a new joint venture to house the James Bond intellectual property rights. The three parties will remain co-owners of the iconic franchise but Amazon MGM will have creative control.
This means Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli step down as creative leaders of the 007 franchise. For Wilson, this is understandable. He is not a young man anymore and I wish him well in his retirement. But Barbara Broccoli, stepping down at the age of 64, well, this set me to thinking. Could I recall another franchise successfully taken over by the studio? No.
Yes, you can mention STAR WARS, which is still raking in money, well after George Lucas stepped out of the franchise and sold it. But let's face the truth here: the last 3 films were absolutely atrocious. And STAR WARS is now doing better with the series than with the films. I have long ago already given up on that franchise. I was fearful the STAR TREK franchise would go the same way, but they are still stumbling on on television. But the movies, that whole thing has collapsed.
It seems to me that this is also going to happen to the JAMES BOND Franchise. Because in the hands of the studio, what can you expect? They are just out for your money. They don't care if it's good. As long as they can get your cash. Preferably next Tuesday.
Oh, sure, the first next film may even be good. But after that, they will soon dwindle into the same abyss of mediocrity the Star Wars films have gone into. Think of the possibilities: one might even get a BLACK James Bond, or even a GAY one. Or even worse, what if they come up with the stupid idea to make James Bond a woman? Excuse me while I toss my cookies.
Albert "Cubby" Broccoli
When Cubby Broccoli handed the franchise over to Michael and Barbara, he told them not to fuck it up. In my view, that is exactly what they are doing now. The whole process of having created James Bond with Daniel Craig and ultimately killing him off in the last film, NO TIME TO DIE, may have been traumatic to Barbara but in handing over the creative reigns to a Studio, Barbara Broccoli is doing exactly what Cubby Broccoli would never have wanted.
I had always been wondering what was the hold-up? Why not simply begin again and choose an actor to carry on the franchise and have a few stories built up for his incarnation of the Bond character? I could imagine a new James Bond storyline for multiple films, beginning humbly as a young agent, earning his 00 status. Going on to dealing with major threats until finally opposing a Blofeld-like villain and defeating him.
I also saw the possibility to make the production less expensive by not relying on CGI to solve problems and bring the story in a realistically truthful manner. This would be a way to work easily on location and not having to do too much in special effects later which burns away one's budget. My favorite example would have been FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE as a template for new films for new missions.
But then I am not a producer. I do not deal with production issues from day to day so I will not imply I would have been able to do a good job with it myself. I know nothing of the day to day business in movie production. And I do acknowledge that Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli have done an exemplary job with the production of the last 5 films. But giving it up?
To me, giving it up is a betrayal of everything that Cubby Broccoli stood for. I am sure that there have always been issues that have become harder and harder but stepping down is not the answer, Barbara. Stepping down is a betrayal of your father's trust in you. I hope, that when you pass on, in the hereafter you can still look your father in the eye and say: I didn't blow it.
But in my book, you have.
I was one of the few who really liked NO TIME TO DIE. So many people dislike the film for it's "woke" touches. Me, I didn't see the problem. It allowed for a more diverse film. How prophetic it is now that, having seen James Bond (Daniel Craig) die in this film, we will now also see the franchise die. No Time To Die indeed. No time like today perhaps.
I would like to issue a challenge to AMAZON MGM: you have a franchise now in your hands that can be enormous in the measure of success. That depends entirely on YOU, now. So make it GOOD! I'll be waiting to see what you will be coming up with.
