Nolan Rejected for Bond, Chooses Oppenheimer

In a shocking development, Amazon has assumed full creative control of the James Bond franchise, marking a significant shift as long-standing producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson step back. This news has sparked curiosity and speculation about the future direction of the iconic series.

According to a recent report by Variety, despite rumors of a potential Bond TV series, a new Bond film remains Amazon's "top priority." The next step for Amazon is to secure a producer who can bring a cohesive vision to the franchise, with David Heyman, known for his work on the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series, being the kind of talent they're eyeing.

In a surprising twist, the report also revealed that acclaimed director Christopher Nolan had expressed interest in helming a Bond film following his work on Tenet. However, his proposal was rebuffed by Broccoli, who was adamant about not granting any director "final cut" privileges. Nolan subsequently directed Oppenheimer, which not only grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide but also clinched the Best Picture and Best Director Oscars.

Variety has indicated that Amazon cannot proceed with hiring for the Bond franchise until the deal with Broccoli and Wilson is finalized, expected later this year. This comes on the heels of reports describing the situation as an "ugly" stalemate between the Broccoli family, who had long held creative control and the power to cast Bond, and Amazon, which acquired the rights to release Bond films following its $8.45 billion purchase of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 2021.

The Wall Street Journal described this behind-the-scenes struggle as leaving Bond "trapped." Neither Amazon nor Eon Productions has issued a comment on these developments.