Christopher Nolan’s Bond Dreams Were Reportedly Blocked by Barbara Broccoli

In late January 2024, Barbara Broccoli, the longtime producer and guardian of the James Bond franchise, was in New York attending a performance of her musical Buena Vista Social Club. During the evening, she was accompanied by top Amazon MGM Studios executives Jennifer Salke, Courtenay Valenti, and Julie Rapaport.

The meeting, which included dinner and discussions, was intended to smooth over the plans for James Bond’s future under Amazon’s control, following its $8.5 billion purchase of MGM in 2022. However, sources say Broccoli was unimpressed with Salke’s leadership and returned to London feeling uninspired.

For years, Broccoli and her brother Michael Wilson, the co-producers of Bond, had maintained tight control over the franchise, managing to avoid fully exploiting the spy series.

But now, after intense negotiations, Amazon is poised to take full control of the Bond franchise—one of the last remaining major untapped cinematic properties that could rival the likes of Marvel, Lucasfilm, and DC. However, the deal still requires regulatory approval in both the U.S. and U.K.

The main reason for the tension is Amazon’s desire for greater control. As former Amazon Studios chief Roy Price pointed out, “If you own a Ferrari but don’t control where or if it goes, it’s frustrating.” Broccoli, however, has always been protective of Bond, knowing how delicate the balance is in managing a character like 007.

One of the most notable “what-ifs” surrounding the Bond franchise involves director Christopher Nolan. After the success of Tenet, Nolan expressed interest in directing a Bond film.

However, Broccoli’s insistence on having final creative control over the films meant that Nolan, known for his demand for final cut, was not able to join the Bond family. As a result, Nolan turned to Oppenheimer, a film that grossed nearly $1 billion at the box office and won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Nolan’s Bond ambitions were crushed, just as Steven Spielberg’s were decades ago, when Broccoli’s father, Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, blocked the director after Close Encounters of the Third Kind, citing Spielberg’s inexperience.

This level of creative control has earned Broccoli both praise and criticism. Bond has always been a complicated character, created during the Cold War, with attributes that are difficult to modernize.

While some feel that Broccoli’s cautious approach kept the character iconic, others argue that her strict control has limited Bond’s potential, particularly when it comes to expanding the franchise in today’s rapidly changing entertainment landscape.

Amazon, however, is aiming to breathe new life into the Bond franchise. With its huge resources, Amazon is planning to move Bond into the digital age, and its interest lies in creating a Bond universe with more than just movies. There’s potential for TV series, spin-offs, and interconnected stories—yet, it’s unclear whether Amazon can truly handle the challenge.

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