10 Movie Franchises That Are Probably Doomed
2. James Bond
James Bond is one of the most iconic and long-running movie franchises ever, having released 25 canonical entries since its debut in 1962, but a dark pall was recently cast over the series' future with the announcement that Amazon had gained full control of the IP.
Though Amazon acquired MGM, and by consequence 007, in 2022, Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson nevertheless retained creative control of the franchise, and had reportedly refused Amazon's numerous pitches to develop a wider James Bond universe with TV spin-offs.
But in late February, it was announced that Broccoli and Wilson had finally ceded full control to Amazon, with the streamer paying out an alleged $1 billion to finally convince the pair to walk away.
It was an announcement that sent shockwaves throughout the Bond fandom, given Broccoli and Wilson's fiercely protective stewardship of the franchise for decades.
Many immediately took to mourning 007 as a brand given the likelihood that Amazon turns it into a content factory not unlike the Marvel Cinematic Universe or Star Wars.
For the great many who loved that James Bond showed up every few years, dropped a movie and then went away, it's seriously alarming that a company as content-hungry as Amazon is now in full control of the property.
Needless to say, they'll need to deliver some seriously impressive results with the next Bond film to curry much favour at all with fans, most of whom are already deeply skeptical of how respectful Amazon will be of its legacy.
If Amazon ends up living down to expectations, then the unforgettable ending of No Time to Die couldn't feel much more apt.