Jeff Bezos just killed James Bond. Here are 3 things Amazon can do to save the franchise.
Despite Amazon CEO Andy Jassy's
But all hope is not lost. If Bezos and Amazon hope to retain the magic that has captivated audiences for 63 years, they must ensure that the cadence of big-screen movies remains the central part of the franchise with bold choices, reverence to the character's history, and a determination to keep audiences coming to the theaters — not asking Alexa to cast the latest episode to their living room TV while they sit on the couch in sweats.
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Here are three ways Bezos and Amazon can save the franchise.
Daniel Craig, left, and Director Martin Campbell on the set the 2006 film "Casino Royale."
Jay Maidment/Columbia Pictures/Handout
Hire Martin Campbell to direct the next movie.
Campbell is responsible for directing two of the greatest Bond debuts, Pierce Brosnan's arrival in 'GoldenEye' and Daniel Craig's franchise reset in 'Casino Royale.' If Amazon wants to recapture some of that magic, it should look no further than Campbell, who has proven that he knows how to set the tone with a new actor while retaining the elements that make a classic Bond film.
Brosnan's suave portrayal in his 1995 debut was a welcome change from the brutalism of Timothy Dalton's efforts in the 1980s. Despite Brosnan's dashing good looks, Campbell deftly managed to keep the new floppy-haired Bond grounded with solid storytelling and tight pacing. Similarly, as Brosnan's tenure grew increasingly fantastical and the franchise faced assaults on all sides — from the satire of Austin Powers to the raw machismo of Jason Bourne — Campbell was tapped again to reinvent the wheel in 2006 with Craig. 'Casino Royale' tossed out the Brosnan-era films' worst habits and embraced a grittier, more bruising version of the character, to
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Campbell, who will turn 82 in October, certainly has nothing left to prove and is widely regarded as the director who best represented the franchise in the modern era. But the health of the franchise depends on a strong debut from the yet-to-be-named new actor, and there is perhaps no one better suited to helm the ship than someone who has done it twice before.
Dev Patel poses for photographers upon arrival for Le Grand Diner du Louvre during the Fall/Winter 2025-2026 Womenswear fashion week, Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Paris. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Scott A Garfitt/Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP
Select Dev Patel to play James Bond.
Bezos and Amazon should select the best actor willing to commit to the franchise for the next decade. That actor is Patel, a top-tier performer whose Indian heritage would give the franchise a new twist and allow the script writers to explore the impact of British imperialism on the MI6 ranks.
Patel's self-directed 'Monkey Man' was as close as you get to a
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Patel, 34, is also primed to carry the franchise for the next decade. Something that cannot be said of
James Bond, played here by Daniel Craig, is a nearly bulletproof spy with innumerable talents, a penchant for martinis, and a license to kill.
Greg Williams/Eon Productions via Getty Images
Do not water down the Bond universe with the 'Marvel' or 'Star Wars' treatment.
We don't need a Moneypenny origin story on Prime. Or a kitschy return to the Cold War setting of earlier franchise installments. For every 'Mandalorian' or 'Andor,' 'Star Wars' fans have had to endure slop like 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' that damages the reputation of a formerly unimpeachable film universe.
We don't need a Bond multiverse or crossovers with other characters. We don't need strict adherence to continuity — Bond movies are escapism. The character is a nearly bulletproof spy with innumerable talents, a penchant for martinis, and a license to kill. We need a blockbuster big-screen movie every few years that leans on the historic franchise and simultaneously pushes the boundaries of action filmmaking.
Spin-offs and TV shows are inevitable now that Bezos and Amazon have full control, but committing to what has made James Bond films so enduringly great will be key to the success of the franchise moving forward.
Best of luck Blofeld … er, I mean Bezos.
Rami Abou-Sabe can be reached at
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