Apple and Amazon Vying for James Bond Movie Rights

Who will end up with the lucrative Bond rights?

By ChrisXMorgan

Apple and Amazon have reportedly thrown their hats into the ring in an attempt to gain the distribution rights to the James Bond franchise.

THR reports that the two companies are vying for the rights and are placing bids in the ballpark of what Warner Bros., the company reportedly in the lead of this rights battle, is willing to pay.

Amazon has been involved in the film world for a little while now, although nothing on the level of something like the Bond franchise. Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht, former co-presidents of Sony Pictures Television, are reportedly leading the charge for Apple, with THR's sources suggesting the reason Apple is going after the Bond rights is to also try and expand the brand into the world of television.

Sony has, to this point, partnered with MGM to release every James Bond film of the Daniel Craig era. However, their deal with MGM expired after Spectre, leaving the rights to the Bond franchise on the table with another Craig-starring Bond movie on the horizon for 2019.

Industry expectations had suggested Warner Bros. would swoop in and seal the deal with MGM, even though Sony, Fox, and Universal have all been in pursuit as well. However, Apple and Amazon's possible bids may shake up the ongoing attempts to iron out a deal.

Eon Productions announced a release date for James Bond 25 earlier this year, while frontrunners have reportedly emerged to direct the film.

Chris Morgan is the author of The Ash Heap of History and The Comic Galaxy of Mystery Science Theater 3000. Wisely or not, he's also on Twitter.

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