James Bond star Timothy Dalton ‘sad’ over Amazon taking creative control of 007
Former 'James Bond' star Timothy Dalton has said he is "sad" series producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are giving creative control of the series to Amazon MGM Studios.
Timothy Dalton is “sad” that Amazon MGM Studios is taking creative control of the ‘James Bond’ franchise.
The 78-year-old actor starred as 007 in 1987’s ‘The Living Daylights’ and ‘Licence to Kill’ in 1989, and he has insisted it is unfortunate that long-time series producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are giving creative control of the series to the American company.
In an interview with the Daily Telegraph newspaper, Dalton said: “It is one of the few wonderful stories we’ve got in film that is British. The leading character is British. We can call it our own.”
The ‘Hot Fuzz’ star added ‘James Bond’ would miss Broccoli’s unique touch, though emphasised he has “no idea” how Amazon will approach the franchise now it has creative control.
He said: “Barbara is one of the best women in the whole world. I think she’s fantastic. Around a ‘Bond’ movie, everyone’s got an opinion. That tends to make something less special, but if you keep it to people who know what they’re doing and know what they want, then it will sharpen up and be good. Barbara had that.
“I have no idea what Amazon would do with it, and I have no idea what the relationship of Amazon to the Broccolis will be. But it is a damn fine series of movies. I was watching it when I was young, we all were. It’s been part of our lives, so anything that threatens it is kind of sad.”
Even if he is unsure about ‘James Bond’s future, Dalton said the people behind the franchise would be “working very hard to make it a hit”.
He explained: “Everyone who’s got anything to do with it will be working very hard to make it a hit. Amazon are quite capable of making it a hit.”
Dalton also stressed it was crucial that Amazon cast a British actor as the famed M.I.6 agent because “that’s where it was born, that’s what the stories are".
Last week (20.02.25), Broccoli and Wilson announced they would be stepping back from ‘James Bond’ after the franchise had been owned by the Broccoli family since 1962’s ‘Dr. No’.
The pair formed a new joint venture with Amazon to house ‘James Bond’s intellectual property rights, with all three parties remaining co-owners of the series.
Broccoli said in a statement: “My life has been dedicated to maintaining and building upon the extraordinary legacy that was handed to Michael and me by our father, producer Cubby Broccoli.
“I have had the honour of working closely with four of the tremendously talented actors who have played 007 and thousands of wonderful artists within the industry.
“With the conclusion of ‘No Time to Die’ and Michael retiring from the films, I feel it is time to focus on my other projects.”
After Broccoli and Wilson announced their departure, Dalton said he had been left “shocked” the producers were handing the franchise to Amazon.
He told RadioTimes.com: “I was very, very surprised and shocked.
“Barbara is I think a fabulous woman and a wonderful producer, as was her father Cubby Broccoli, who I got on with very well and liked a lot. He was a very powerful and strong anchor for the project.
“Nothing went on that he didn't want and it's sad that he's not with us anymore, that's all I can say.”
