Amazon MGM Paid $20M for Bond Creative Control

EON Productions’ U.K. filing shows Amazon MGM Studios paid $20 million on Feb. 20, 2025 for creative control of the James Bond franchise, a figure far below earlier estimates of up to $1 billion. The agreement creates a joint venture that keeps producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson as co-owners while giving Amazon creative control, and EON’s filing indicates the transaction closed before it was publicly announced. Industry coverage says the modest upfront payment likely understates the deal’s ultimate cost because the structure could include stock, earnouts, profit-sharing and significant future production investment. Amazon, which bought MGM in 2021 for $8.5 billion, has tapped Denis Villeneuve to direct the next Bond with Steven Knight writing and is reportedly seeking a younger, relatively unknown British actor to play 007. Amazon declined to comment on the filing.