Nolan's Oppenheimer Born After Bond Rejection

In a surprising turn of events, Amazon has taken full creative control over the James Bond franchise, prompting long-term producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson to step back. A recent report from Variety has illuminated the next steps for the iconic series, including a surprising detail about a high-profile director who was overlooked.

Despite speculation about a potential Bond TV series, Variety confirms that a new Bond film remains Amazon's "top priority." The first move for Amazon will reportedly be to find a new producer for the franchise. They are eyeing someone like David Heyman, known for his work on the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series, to bring a cohesive vision to the Bond universe.

The report also reveals that acclaimed director Christopher Nolan expressed interest in helming a Bond film following his work on Tenet. However, Broccoli insisted that no director would have "final cut" under her stewardship, leading to Nolan's rejection. Nolan subsequently directed Oppenheimer, which grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide and earned him Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director.

Variety reports that Amazon cannot proceed with hiring for the Bond franchise until their deal with Broccoli and Wilson is finalized, which is expected to happen later this year. This development comes after reports of an "ugly" stalemate between the Broccoli family and Amazon, with the future of the franchise described as "on pause."

The tension stems from a power struggle between Barbara Broccoli, who traditionally held creative control and made casting decisions for Bond, and Amazon, which gained distribution rights following its $8.45 billion acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 2021. According to the Wall Street Journal, this conflict has left the Bond franchise "trapped."

Neither Amazon nor Eon Productions have issued a statement on the matter.