Apple, Amazon Fighting Warner Bros. Over James Bond Film Rights
James Bond film rights are firmly up for grabs now that Apple and Amazon have joined in the bidding, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Although Warner Bros. “remains in the lead,” it looks like Apple and Amazon are serious about gaining the rights to one of the most popular film series in the history of cinema. The move comes two years after Sony’s distribution deal with MGM to distribute the Bond films came to an end with “Spectre.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter:
Sources say newly arrived executives Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht are spearheading the effort on Apple’s behalf. Given their background (the pair served as co-presidents of Sony Pictures Television and shocked the industry when they announced in June that they were leaving for Apple), this would suggest that Apple is interested in cutting a larger rights deal or acquiring full ownership to exploit Bond’s largely unmined TV potential. Valuation of the franchise may be anywhere between $2 billion and $5 billion says an insider.
The next Bond film is expected to launch in theaters in November 2019. It will again star Daniel Craig as Bond.
Do you think Apple should spend what it takes to acquire the distribution rights to Jame Bond films? Let us know below.
