Amazon could make James Bond into a 'Marvel-style multiverse'
With Amazon's acquisition of MGM and the recent buyout of EON Productions, the once tightly controlled cinematic legacy of 007 is poised for an unprecedented expansion.
As befits a Bond film, there is a ticking clock counting down.
Not to an explosion, but perhaps something equally impactful: In 10 years Ian Fleming's superspy enters the public domain — so anyone will be able to make their own (legal) James Bond project.
So get ready for Amazon to unleash a deluge of Bond-related content across every conceivable medium.
This would a dramatic departure from the stewardship of EON Productions, which famously protected the franchise's exclusivity, producing a carefully curated series of 25 films over six decades.
Amazon, by contrast, is expected to be (surprise, surprise) aggressive in the marketplace.
With sole ownership of the franchise, the tech giant is likely to pursue a 'scorched earth' strategy: flooding the market with films, television shows, and spin-offs to cement its dominance and discourage competition once Fleming's works become public property.
The end of EON's era
For decades, EON Productions, led by Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, maintained an iron grip on Bond's cinematic legacy.
Their deliberate approach sought to preserve Bond's prestige, releasing films only when the story and casting were deemed perfect.
This cautious strategy created a sense of occasion with every new Bond instalment, and protected the brand from oversaturation.
However, Amazon's corporate ethos differs sharply. With a business model that thrives on high churn of content and continuous engagement, the company is unlikely to adhere to EON's patient, film-centric philosophy, instead transforming Bond from a singular film series into a sprawling multimedia multiverse.
Amazon's multiverse of Bond
This approach would mirror the success of franchises like Marvel and DC, where multiple versions of the same character coexist across different films, television shows, and streaming platforms.
For Bond fans, this could mean simultaneous projects featuring multiple actors portraying different versions of the iconic spy.
Imagine a gritty, grounded Bond series on Amazon Prime exploring the origins of the 00 program, while a separate blockbuster film franchise continues the traditional globetrotting adventures.
There could even be alternate universe Bonds — from a futuristic cyber-espionage take to a Cold War period piece faithful to Fleming's original novels.
This multiverse approach would allow Amazon to cater to diverse audiences while maintaining a near-constant flow of Bond-related content.
Such an approach also serves a strategic purpose. Once James Bond enters the public domain competitors could theoretically develop their own adaptations of Bond's original adventures. However, anything derived from the films or original characters not present in Fleming's novels — such as the iconic Aston Martin — remains under Amazon's copyright.
By flooding the market with an array of distinctive Bond properties, Amazon would make it difficult for competitors to carve out their own space.
A future of endless Bonds?
With no legal restrictions preventing multiple Bonds at once, Amazon could leverage the franchise in several innovative ways:
1. Television spin-offs: High-budget Bond TV series could delve into backstories of fan-favourite characters like M, Q, or Felix Leiter, or explore the intricacies of MI6.
2. Competing bonds: Different Bonds providing fresh interpretations, while allowing global audiences to engage with the version of Bond that resonates most with them.
3. Event crossovers: In a move echoing comic-book multiverses, Amazon could stage crossover events, bringing different Bonds together on-screen.
And if they experiment with the use of AI, fans could finally see Sean Connery's suave Bond face off against Daniel Craig's brooding agent — or their modern equivalents.
4. Animated series: Animated adaptations could bring Fleming's novels to life for younger audiences. Maybe even a tween or teen Bond?
Risk vs. reward
This approach is not without risks. Overexposure could dilute the Bond brand's mystique, transforming what was once an eagerly anticipated cinematic event into just another streaming option. Additionally, Amazon faces the challenge of maintaining Bond's core identity while updating the character across many iterations.
Historically, the Bond franchise has thrived by evolving slowly. Too many Bond and Bond-adjacent projects could undermine the franchise's carefully crafted image and alienate long-time fans.
Yet the rewards are potentially enormous. Amazon has already demonstrated its willingness to invest heavily in blockbuster properties, as evidenced by its billion-dollar Lord of the Rings series. By transforming Bond into a myriad of Bonds, Amazon is both protecting a lucrative asset and reinventing 007 for a whole new generation.
Dr Darren Paul Fisher is the Head of Film, Screen and Creative Media at Bond University. An award-winning screenwriter, producer and director, Darren's first book ' Film as Argument ' will be released later this year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Major airlines cancel flights to Dubai, Doha after US strikes on Iran
British Airways and Singapore Airlines have cancelled flights to the Persian Gulf, increasing aviation disruptions in the region after the US struck three nuclear sites in Iran and Tehran vowed to retaliate. London-based British Airways cancelled several flights to Dubai and diverted two planes bound for the emirate overnight, according to data from Flightradar24. One flight took off from Heathrow Airport on Saturday night but was diverted to Zurich after it reached Saudi Arabia's airspace in the early hours of Sunday. Another Dubai-bound jet returned to Heathrow after going as far as Egypt. The carrier also cancelled flights to Qatar's capital Doha on Sunday and halted routes to Bahrain through to the end of the month due to operational constraints and airspace restrictions. British Airways said it has adjusted its flight schedule as a result of recent events to ensure the safety of customers and crew. Singapore Airlines said on Sunday it had cancelled two flights between Singapore and Dubai, warning in an advisory that other flights between the South-East Asian country and the emirates may be affected 'as the situation remains fluid.' Several American and European airlines paused flights to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar last week after Israel started bombarding Iran. The moves highlight growing worries in a part of the Middle East that is typically considered safe and sheltered from regional dislocations. US President Donald Trump said American bombers struck Iran's three main nuclear sites on Sunday and he threatened further action, pulling the US directly into the country's conflict with Israel despite claiming he wanted to avoid new wars under his 'America First' agenda. The state of play in the air AEGEAN AIRLINES: Greece's Aegean Airlines cancelled all flights to and from Tel Aviv up to and including the early morning flight on July 12, as well as all flights to and from Beirut, Amman, and Erbil through the morning arrivals of June 28. AIRBALTIC: Latvia's airBaltic has cancelled all flights to and from Tel Aviv until September 30. AEROFLOT: Russia's Aeroflot said that it had cancelled flights between Moscow and Tehran, and made changes to other routes in the Middle East after the first round of Israeli strikes on Iran. AIR EUROPA: The Spanish airline has cancelled all flights to and from Tel Aviv until July 31. AIR FRANCE: Air France has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv until further notice. AMERICAN AIRLINES: All flights to Doha have been suspended. ARKIA: The Israeli airline said that it was cancelling all its flights until June 21. AZERBAIJAN AIRLINES: The Azeri airline has suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv until June 30. BLUEBIRD AIRWAYS: The Greek airline has cancelled all flights to and from Israel until at least June 30. BRITISH AIRWAYS: The UK flagship has cancelled all Tel Aviv flights until July 31 and all flights to Amman and Bahrain until the end of June. It has also paused flights to Doha and Dubai. DELTA AIR LINES: The US carrier will not guarantee any travel to, from or through Tel Aviv until August 31. EL AL ISRAEL AIRLINES: All scheduled flights cancelled or closed to new bookings until at least July 15. ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES: All flights suspended between Addis Ababa and Tel Aviv. ETIHAD AIRWAYS: All flights cancelled between Abu Dhabi and Amman until June 20 and between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv until June 30. EMIRATES: The UAE carrier has suspended flights to and from Jordan, Lebanon, Iran and Iraq until at least June 30. FLYDUBAI: The airline has suspended flights to and from Iran, Iraq, Israel and Syria until June 30. IBERIA EXPRESS: The airline has cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv until June 30. ISRAIR: The Israeli airline has cancelled all flights from and to Israel until June 30. ITA AIRWAYS: The Italian Airline has suspended Tel Aviv flights until August 1. KLM: The Dutch carrier has cancelled all flights to and from Tel Aviv until at least July 1. Some flights to, from or via Beirut until June 29 may be disrupted. LUFTHANSA: The German carrier has suspended all flights to and from Beirut up to and including June 30, and to and from Tel Aviv and Tehran up to and including July 31. Flights to and from Amman and Erbil are cancelled until July 11. PEGASUS: The Turkish airline has cancelled flights to Iran until June 30 and flights to Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan until June 23. QATAR AIRWAYS: The Doha-based airline has temporarily cancelled flights to and from Iraq, Iran and Syria. RYANAIR: The European budget airline has cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv until September 30. SINGAPORE AIRLINES: All flights to the Persian Gulf may be affected. TAROM: Romania's flag carrier has suspended all commercial flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut and Amman until at least June 24. TRANSAVIA: KLM's budget airline has cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv, Amman and Beirut until at least June. TUS AIRWAYS: The Cypriot airline has cancelled all its flights to and from Israel scheduled until June 24 (inclusive). Flights scheduled for departure between June 25 and June 30 are closed for sale. UNITED AIRLINES: The US carrier says all travel to Tel Aviv could be until at least August 1. Flights to Dubai have been suspended.
The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
Major airlines cancel flights to Dubai, Doha after US strikes on Iran
British Airways and Singapore Airlines have cancelled flights to the Persian Gulf, increasing aviation disruptions in the region after the US struck three nuclear sites in Iran and Tehran vowed to retaliate. London-based British Airways cancelled several flights to Dubai and diverted two planes bound for the emirate overnight, according to data from Flightradar24. One flight took off from Heathrow Airport on Saturday night but was diverted to Zurich after it reached Saudi Arabia's airspace in the early hours of Sunday. Another Dubai-bound jet returned to Heathrow after going as far as Egypt. The carrier also cancelled flights to Qatar's capital Doha on Sunday and halted routes to Bahrain through to the end of the month due to operational constraints and airspace restrictions. British Airways said it has adjusted its flight schedule as a result of recent events to ensure the safety of customers and crew. Singapore Airlines said on Sunday it had cancelled two flights between Singapore and Dubai, warning in an advisory that other flights between the South-East Asian country and the emirates may be affected 'as the situation remains fluid.' Several American and European airlines paused flights to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar last week after Israel started bombarding Iran. The moves highlight growing worries in a part of the Middle East that is typically considered safe and sheltered from regional dislocations. US President Donald Trump said American bombers struck Iran's three main nuclear sites on Sunday and he threatened further action, pulling the US directly into the country's conflict with Israel despite claiming he wanted to avoid new wars under his 'America First' agenda. The state of play in the air AEGEAN AIRLINES: Greece's Aegean Airlines cancelled all flights to and from Tel Aviv up to and including the early morning flight on July 12, as well as all flights to and from Beirut, Amman, and Erbil through the morning arrivals of June 28. AIRBALTIC: Latvia's airBaltic has cancelled all flights to and from Tel Aviv until September 30. AEROFLOT: Russia's Aeroflot said that it had cancelled flights between Moscow and Tehran, and made changes to other routes in the Middle East after the first round of Israeli strikes on Iran. AIR EUROPA: The Spanish airline has cancelled all flights to and from Tel Aviv until July 31. AIR FRANCE: Air France has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv until further notice. AMERICAN AIRLINES: All flights to Doha have been suspended. ARKIA: The Israeli airline said that it was cancelling all its flights until June 21. AZERBAIJAN AIRLINES: The Azeri airline has suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv until June 30. BLUEBIRD AIRWAYS: The Greek airline has cancelled all flights to and from Israel until at least June 30. BRITISH AIRWAYS: The UK flagship has cancelled all Tel Aviv flights until July 31 and all flights to Amman and Bahrain until the end of June. It has also paused flights to Doha and Dubai. DELTA AIR LINES: The US carrier will not guarantee any travel to, from or through Tel Aviv until August 31. EL AL ISRAEL AIRLINES: All scheduled flights cancelled or closed to new bookings until at least July 15. ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES: All flights suspended between Addis Ababa and Tel Aviv. ETIHAD AIRWAYS: All flights cancelled between Abu Dhabi and Amman until June 20 and between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv until June 30. EMIRATES: The UAE carrier has suspended flights to and from Jordan, Lebanon, Iran and Iraq until at least June 30. FLYDUBAI: The airline has suspended flights to and from Iran, Iraq, Israel and Syria until June 30. IBERIA EXPRESS: The airline has cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv until June 30. ISRAIR: The Israeli airline has cancelled all flights from and to Israel until June 30. ITA AIRWAYS: The Italian Airline has suspended Tel Aviv flights until August 1. KLM: The Dutch carrier has cancelled all flights to and from Tel Aviv until at least July 1. Some flights to, from or via Beirut until June 29 may be disrupted. LUFTHANSA: The German carrier has suspended all flights to and from Beirut up to and including June 30, and to and from Tel Aviv and Tehran up to and including July 31. Flights to and from Amman and Erbil are cancelled until July 11. PEGASUS: The Turkish airline has cancelled flights to Iran until June 30 and flights to Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan until June 23. QATAR AIRWAYS: The Doha-based airline has temporarily cancelled flights to and from Iraq, Iran and Syria. RYANAIR: The European budget airline has cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv until September 30. SINGAPORE AIRLINES: All flights to the Persian Gulf may be affected. TAROM: Romania's flag carrier has suspended all commercial flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut and Amman until at least June 24. TRANSAVIA: KLM's budget airline has cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv, Amman and Beirut until at least June. TUS AIRWAYS: The Cypriot airline has cancelled all its flights to and from Israel scheduled until June 24 (inclusive). Flights scheduled for departure between June 25 and June 30 are closed for sale. UNITED AIRLINES: The US carrier says all travel to Tel Aviv could be until at least August 1. Flights to Dubai have been suspended.
News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
NEWS OF THE WEEK: Court rejects Ed Sheeran Thinking Out Loud copyright case
A minority owner of a Marvin Gaye song has tried tirelessly to sue Sheeran over the alleged similarities between Sheeran's hit and Let's Get It On, but the High Court has refused to accept the lawsuit. "No reasonable jury could find that the two songs, taken as a whole, are substantially similar in light of their dissimilar melodies and lyrics," the judge declared, as reported by USA Today. Back in November, the High Court found that Sheeran did not infringe on Gaye's copyright, citing that the songs share only the "fundamental musical building blocks".
