For the first time since the 1960s, the James Bond films have a new producer: Amy Pascal via Pascal Pictures. Along with David Heyman of Heyday Films, Pascal will lead the highly successful franchise.
Why Amazon Chose Amy Pascal
Amazon, which acquired the rights to the Bond movies when it purchased MGM in 2022, has cited that Amy Pascal’s experience with the Spider-Man franchise made her a highly attractive choice to Amazon.
Courtenay Valenti, the head of film for Amazon MGM, had this to say:
We are approaching every creative decision with James Bond, which Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have so masterfully steered, with the greatest sense of responsibility…Part of an elite group of producers who have developed and managed massive film franchises to box office success and critical acclaim, Amy Pascal and David Heyman are two of the most accomplished, experienced, and respected film producers in our industry.
The Barbara Broccoli Controversy
The Bond films had previously been steered by Barbara Broccoli, who actually had been battling to keep the family franchise OUT of the hands of Amazon. Her father, Albert Broccoli, who created the series, had famously advised the family to:
Don’t let anybody else screw it up…You can screw it up if you want to, but don’t let other people screw it up.
Her half-brother Brian Wilson had reportedly been grooming his son Greg to take over the franchise. That Broccoli sold it to Amazon after calling them “fucking idiots” in a Wall Street Journal interview came as a shocker to Hollywood onlookers. Fatigue with the franchise and a deal she couldn’t refuse offered by Jeff Bezos have been put forward as reasons why.
Why Amy Pascal Is A Good Choice To Lead Bond
The former Sony film exec specializes in action flick movies, making her a clear choice to head a classic semi-fantasy action flick series. She has done the Venom films and the Jumanji sequels as well, according to her IMDB. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse received a nomination for
Her additional work on The Post, starring Meryl Streep and covering conflicts between The Washington Post and the federal government over time, may have cinched this deal. The Post received two Oscar nominations and much critical acclaim.
