New 007 to ‘serve King and country’

The next James Bond will serve King and country – but discussions with new 007 studio owner Amazon over the spy’ film franchise’s future direction haven’t started, producer Barbara Broccoli, pictured, said this week.

Broccoli and her half-brother Michael G Wilson spoke about the future of the 25-movie franchise, moments after having their handprints immortalised in cement at Hollywood’s famous TCL Chinese Theatre.

The last Bond outing, 2021’s No Time To Die, was the final installment to star Daniel Craig, and Amazon has since bought 007 studio MGM. This means speculation is rife about what changes could lie in store for the fictional spy.

“We’re beginning our relationship with Amazon. We haven’t started to get involved in the next Bond film yet,” said Broccoli.

As custodians of the franchise her father Albert “Cubby” Broccoli founded 60 years ago, “we’re not always just going to rest on our laurels and keep to a formula,” she added.

At the centre of the rumours around the next 007 outing is the matter of who will play the suave superspy with a license to kill.

Craig was initially a controversial choice, particularly for his blond hair and rugged looks, but his five 007 films broke box office records, with 2012’s Skyfall surpassing $1 billion (about R17 billion) worldwide.

Fans have suggested the next Bond may be the first non-white actor in the role, while Broccoli has scotched claims that Bond in future could be female.

She said “there are certain formulaic things” that will always remain.

“The central character of James Bond is the most important element of these movies, and we believe he’s incorruptible, he works for Queen and now King and country,” she said.

“He’s not in it for his own personal gain. He’s in it for trying to keep the world a safer place. So I think that is something we definitely wouldn’t change.” –