Amazon MGM Studios made a high-profile debut at CinemaCon, thrilling audiences with star-studded previews. However, despite the buzz surrounding the future of James Bond, the highly anticipated franchise update remained largely under wraps.
Since 1962, the Bond films have been controlled by the Broccoli family, known for their tight grip on the franchise. That changed earlier this year when producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson sold creative control to Amazon MGM for a reported $1 billion (£760 million)—a move that shocked fans and industry insiders.
A New Era for Bond?
Despite intense speculation about prequels, spin-offs, and reboots, Amazon MGM’s CinemaCon presentation provided little new information. Chris Hemsworth, often rumored as a potential Bond, attended to promote his upcoming thriller Crime 101, but no casting news was revealed.
Amazon MGM executives Courtenay Valenti and Sue Kroll briefly addressed the franchise’s future, stating:
“We are committed to honoring the legacy of this iconic character while bringing a fresh, exotic new chapter to audiences worldwide.”
They noted that new Bond producers Amy Pascal (Spider-Man franchise) and David Heyman (Harry Potter series) were hard at work in London, unable to attend the event.
Amazon’s Theatrical Vision
While Bond remained mostly in the shadows, Amazon MGM Studios showcased a blockbuster lineup for the coming years:
- Ryan Gosling’s Project Hail Mary – A sci-fi epic where he plays an astronaut trying to save humanity.
- Chris Pratt’s Mercy – A thriller about an AI-driven justice system.
- Masters of the Universe – A highly anticipated fantasy adventure.
Amazon MGM remains committed to the theatrical experience, with plans to release 15 movies a year by 2027 and 14 films already lined up for 2026.
As fans eagerly await details on Bond’s next mission, one thing is certain—Amazon is betting big on the future of cinema.