Latest news with #Amazon-MGM
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
After Seeing The 007: First Light Trailer, I Have Even More Faith In The Amazon-MGM Era Of James Bond
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The 2025 movie schedule has been a pretty rough time to be a 007 fan. With Amazon-MGM's creative control deal putting them in the driver's seat for the road ahead, and those recent Bond copyright issues threatening to derail Bond 26's rumored production/release schedule, no one knows when or how James Bond will return. It's the perfect time for something like the announcement trailer for IO Interactive's 007 First Light to hit, and if the movies are given this much care, I'm even more optimistic about the future. Revealing the first public look at what was once called Project 007, that reel has taken the first steps into this modern stand alone prequel. Per reporting out of PlayStation's official blog, here's what to expect from young James: This is Bond as you've never seen him before — the youngest Bond fans have ever met. In 007 First Light, at only 26 years old, he isn't the fully fledged 007 you know from the tux-and-martini days but a man with sharp instincts, sometimes reckless, who is still learning when to fight, when to bluff, and when to disappear into the shadows. Now unless we've discarded Charlie Higson's Young Bond books, this 007 First Light claim is absolutely true. But putting that nitpick aside, we'll be seeing James Bond grabbing the spotlight after showing his pattern of risky behavior that goes against rules and regulations. What's more, Amazon-MGM Studios has collaborated with IO Interactive on First Light's story. With all respect to the good people at EON Productions, it looks like previous James Bond game restrictions are now officially out the window. Gunplay is definitely on the table here, as are car chases, Roger Moore-style pick-up lines, and a new version of the On Her Majesty's Secret Service theme I need an MP3 of at once. We're going to see young James Bond 'earn the number,' as the game's tagline states. It's a refreshingly modern looking take that's reminiscent of when Casino Royale rebooted the Bond legacy in 2006. Despite sounding like a more modern reinvention that discards the past, there are a lot of classic references throughout 007 First Light. The Alpha build footage shows us a chess game similar to the one in From Russia with Love, Bond wearing a jacket styled like the one in Dr. No, and various outfits and locations that nod to every era of James Bond movies. Mixing those two halves together in the way that First Light has is key to making a good James Bond story - no matter what medium it's in. So if this is the first inkling of what Amazon-MGM's reign will give audience in James Bond 26, consider my ticket already bought. 007 First Light doesn't have a release date, but is scheduled to be released at some point in 2026. Let's just hope this title and Grand Theft Auto VI stay clear out of each other's way, so as not to collapse the internet, massive world economies and countless relationships in their wake.
Los Angeles Times
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Minecraft opens with record-breaking $157 million domestic box office
'A Minecraft Movie' injected some much-needed life into the slumbering box office with a record-breaking $157-million domestic opening and $144 million overseas. The movie, starring Jason Momoa, Jack Black and Jennifer Coolidge, shattered expectations, doubling some pre-weekend estimates. It took the top slot for a video game adaptation, eclipsing 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' launch in 2023, which grossed $146.4 million. Based on the 2011 video game, the film has delivered a welcome hit for Warner Bros., giving the beleaguered studio the largest domestic opening of the year. It reportedly cost $150 million to make, excluding marketing expenses. It is the first film of the year to gross over $100 million domestically. 'We're absolutely overjoyed 'A Minecraft Movie' has been so warmly received by audiences around the world,' said Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group co-CEOs Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy in a statement. He added that the movie's 'decade long journey to the screen was overseen with great care by WBP's Jesse Ehrman and his team, and we are thrilled their efforts have resulted in such a tremendous response.' Last month, domestic box office generated just $410 million, according to Comscore. Given its strong showing, 'A Minecraft Movie,' could 'knock some 7 to 8 percentage points off the year-to-date deficit that heading into the weekend was running 13% behind 2024 and will wind up at around a 5% year-to-date deficit through today,' said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore. The film reportedly cost $150 million to produce. The Amazon-MGM action thriller 'A Working Man,' starring Jason Statham, took in $7.2 million over the weekend, while Fathom Entertainment's religious themed 'The Chosen: The Last Supper,' (Season 5) Part 2, premiered this weekend, coming in third with a $7 million opening. Disney's live action 'Snow White' continues to slide, with $6 million in receipts, its third weekend in theaters.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
James Bond Fans Can Finally Rejoice With First Forward Momentum After Weeks Of Up And Down Announcements
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. It's kind of amazing how quickly we've seen rumors and speculation fly surrounding the James Bond movies. Though the 2025 movie schedule still won't see 007 returning to theater screens, reports of Amazon-MGM's James Bond plans ramping up suggested that a big reveal was in the air. Sure enough, we've now gotten confirmation that the new producing team to succeed Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson has been hired. The previously suggested team of Spider-Man veteran Amy Pascal and Harry Potter stalwart David Heyman are now officially the new heads of the Bond Cinematic Legacy. As revealed by an official press release from Amazon-MGM Studios, this hire would seem to be the launching pad to putting James Bond 26 onto that rumored fast track for a 2027 release. Making their first official statement, Pascal and Heyman has this to say about their latest undertaking: James Bond is one of the most iconic characters in the history of cinema. We are humbled to follow in the footsteps of Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson who made so many extraordinary films and honored and excited to keep the spirit of Bond very much alive as he embarks on his next adventure. For someone who not only follows this series professionally, but also has a huge investment as a fan, I think this hiring represents a pretty substantial pivot in the future of Commander Bond. More to come...
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
No to Jemma Bond? Brosnan says 007 should be British
LONDON, March 10 — Pierce Brosnan has said the next James Bond must be British, amid reports confirming that the character will remain male under Amazon-MGM's new creative direction. According to a report in The Daily Telegraph, the Irish actor, who played Bond from 1995 to 2002, dismissed speculation that an American could take on the role, calling it a 'given' that 007 should be from the UK or the Commonwealth. Brosnan also supported the decision for Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson to step back from creative control, saying, 'I hope that [Amazon] handles the work and the character with dignity and imagination and respect.' The Amazon-MGM deal, worth £770 million, has sparked debate among fans, with some fearing changes to the franchise's tone and identity. A leaked memo suggests that Bond's casting criteria remain strict, stating that the next actor 'has to be British or from the Commonwealth – and he has to be male.' Amazon's acquisition has caused tensions, with reports that Barbara Broccoli had fiercely opposed ideas for spin-offs and TV adaptations of the Bond franchise. While no official announcements have been made, actors Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James, and James Norton are considered top contenders to replace Daniel Craig. Brosnan, reflecting on his time as Bond, said he was proud to be part of the franchise's legacy, adding, 'Everything changes, everything falls apart, and I wish them well.'
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
There's Another James Bond Rumor About Why Barbara Broccoli Left The Franchise, And This Time Jeff Bezos Is Involved
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. I'm surprised how much 007 news the 2025 movie schedule has yielded. One moment we were all sitting there wondering what's next for James Bond 26, and then a new development crossed the cultural gun barrel. With Amazon-MGM's 007 deal giving the studio full creative control, the world has been left to wonder just why Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson would give up their control over the franchise? THR has spoken to a 'source familiar' with this earthshaking development, and it appears that Jeff Bezos may have been the overall catalyst. In a rundown that theorizes what actually happened, this unnamed party alleges that the founder of Amazon pulled the trigger due to this concern: He read her quote in the Journal and got on the phone and said, 'I don't care what it costs, get rid of her. That 'quote in the Journal' is from that report on Barbara Broccoli's alleged frustrations with Amazon. It's an unsurprising development, as that supposed bombshell wasn't exactly flattering to the commerce giant's image. When coupled with other rumors of various spinoffs plans, and even alleged tone concerns over Bond 26, longtime fans of how the 007 machine has been run so far have been iffy over what to make of these latest developments. For a moment, EON Productions' control over the franchise co-founded by Albert 'Cubby' Broccoli seemed like it would remain resolute. Shortly before the announcement, Martin Campbell, the director of Casino Royale, shared his thoughts on how 'Barbara will absolutely stick to her guns.' Which makes this next quote from an alleged insider to Deadline kind of heartbreaking: She's a fighter, but she got tired of fighting. With all of these anonymous whispers filling the air, it appears one of my greatest fears may have came true. As Amazon-MGM and EON Productions were in a stalemate, someone had to make the move to end it. With co-producer/half-brother Michael G. Wilson ready to retire, the choices were forge ahead alone or make a deal. And whoo-boy, that deal lived up to Jeff Bezos' supposed demands. How do you think Amazon-MGM Studios paid for creative control over Bond, James Bond? The answer, per that previously cited Deadline article, is $1 billion, and we don't even know how that's being paid out. This is on top of Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson remaining co-owners of the 007 cinematic franchise, which ensures financial security after walking away from creative control. That price tag on its own might not seem too steep, especially in light of Disney's acquisitions of Lucasfilm, Marvel and 20th Century Fox. However, this quick and dirty primer on the formation of Amazon-MGM Studios, again from Deadline, paints a very different picture: Though valued between $3.5 billion-$4 billion, the legendary motion picture studio was absorbed by the streamer for $8.5 billion, the hefty sum propped up by the potential access of the 007 franchise. Going into the Amazon-MGM acquisition era, I didn't think that EON's control over James Bond would be challenged in such a way that it would eventually relinquish that power. But times have changed, and I guess sometimes you need to pick your battles carefully. For now, I'll maintain an open mind, as we don't know if these insider rumors are actually true. Should they be proven to be accurate, Amazon's update on the Bond franchise might feel a bit more ominous in the long run. With Bond 26's fate becoming even more evasive, we're caught between a potentially rushed spinoff to whet the crowd's appetite, or a prolonged wait to 'get it right.' We'll have to just wait see how the new players on the board move in this regard, martinis at the ready and tuxedos firmly pressed. Because at the moment, the question of concern isn't if James Bond will return, but rather how that resurrection will happen.
