The Bunker

James Bond vs Bezos – Will Amazon ruin 007?

Feb 26, 2025

Helen O’Hara, film journalist and Empire magazine's editor-at-large, discusses the future of James Bond now under Amazon's control. She questions whether Amazon will revive or dilute the franchise with cheesy spins, similar to Disney's handling of Star Wars. The conversation dives into the delicate balance of modernizing Bond's long-standing themes of masculinity and imperialism while ensuring the character remains relevant in today's world. O’Hara also reflects on how the evolution of villains mirrors contemporary global issues.

34:57

Episode guests

Helen O'Hara

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Amazon's acquisition of MGM raises concerns about the potential dilution of James Bond's character integrity due to data-driven storytelling approaches.

Revamping the Bond character involves navigating societal values that challenge the traditional portrayal of a womanizing, heavy-drinking spy.

Deep dives

The Future of James Bond

The future of the James Bond franchise is uncertain following Daniel Craig's departure and the acquisition of MGM by Amazon. The tension between Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson, who have long championed the Bond brand, and Amazon's focus on data-driven decisions and potential spin-offs raises concerns about the character's evolution. Creative control seems to be shifting, prompting fears that the integrity of Bond's traditional portrayal could be compromised in the hands of a mega-corporation more interested in revenue than storytelling. The possibility of a new Bond film hinges on Amazon's ability to respect the character's legacy while adapting to modern sensibilities.

Intro

2min

Bond's Uncertain Future

10min

Reimagining Bond: Navigating Tradition and Modernity

4min

The Evolution of Bond: Modern Masculinity and Politics

8min

The Evolution of Bond Villains and Amazon's Creative Adaptation

3min

The Evolution of James Bond in Contemporary Spy Narratives

2min

A Festive Podcast Dialogue and a New Show Recommendation

2min

‘No Prime To Die’? Amazon takes over creative control of James Bond from the Broccoli family who turned the suave spy into a movie icon. What happens now? Will Amazon simply rinse the I.P. with ever-cheesier spin-offs like Disney did with Star Wars? Is 007 still relevant in a world where real-life Bond villains run tech companies and countries? Can you still make a hero out of a heavy-drinking, womanising figure from Britain’s imperial past? Film journalist Helen O’Hara, editor-at-large of Empire magazine and host of the Empire Film podcast joins Andrew Harrison to look at Bond’s future.

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Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Audio production by Tom Taylor. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production

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