Following the surprising news that Amazon has officially acquired the rights to theJames Bondfranchise after long negotiations, it seems like the iconic British character will be entering a new era of movies and TV shows. There have been25 James Bond filmsin the official chronology, but this certainly feels like the most important update for a long time regarding the future of this series. It’s currently unclear exactly how James Bond will continue, but Amazon will surely play a large part.
Given the character’s death atthe end ofNo Time To Die, it’s likely that Amazon will be starting fresh with a new version of the character in a totally different continuity. This would open the door for countless new spin-offs and side projects, allowing the James Bond series to finally branch out in new directions and likely find a home on Prime Video. The details of these new projects are currently under wraps (if plans exist at all), but there are some ideas that currently feel inevitable for this revamped franchise.
6James Bond 26
A Familiar, Rebooted Sequel
The most obvious place to start for Amazon’s new James Bond franchise is exactly where it left off: movies. This would be the perfect opportunity to reboot the franchise with a new face at the center (just likeCasino Royale), while sticking closely to the character and backstory that was established in previous works.This would naturally have to be set in a different worldthan the previous series, given Bond’s death inNo Time To Die, but that’s something the movies have succeeded at doing before.
What do you think of Jeff Bezos asking audiences to choose the next James Bond?
Now that Amazon owns the rights to 007, Jeff Bezos took to social media to prompt fans on who they’d like to see as the next Bond. Frankly, I really hope this isn’t actually the way they decide to cast the character and instead leave it up to the director. Of course, multiple filmmakers will be involved in the franchise with the new Bond, but I’d rather leave it to the creatives to decide on the casting than opening the question to audiences.
The situation with Amazon’s control of James Bondis certainly complicated, butit doesn’t mean everything about the franchise has to be started again. Certain plot points and side characters from the previous movies could definitely make a return, butBond 26needs to feel like a fresh series if this “rebooted” era is going to succeed. It may be the 26th movie overall, but it should feel like the first in a new continuity.
5Felix Leiter TV Show
A Spin-Off About Bond’s CIA Connections
The character of Felix Leiter plays a huge role in Ian Fleming’s books, but he was notably missing from Daniel Craig’s era betweenCasino RoyaleandNo Time To Die. The CIA Agent was played by Jeffrey Wright, and his fraternal rivalry with Bond was among the strongest aspects of that film.Amazon would be missing out if they didn’t bring Wright backfor this inevitable spin-off, but it may be safer (and less confusing) to recast the character for the new era and turn this show into a crime/thriller origin story.
4Paloma TV Show
A Spin-Off Focusing On Ana De Armas’ Bond Girl
Ofall the Bond girlsin this long-running franchise, Ana de Armas’ character Paloma is certainly one of the most memorable. Despite only having a few minutes of screen time inNo Time To Die, she left a huge impression that had fans begging for more. Whileit’s almost certain we’ll never see her with Craig’s version of Bond again, there’s no reason she can’t be involved in a more self-contained spin-off show. If it goes well, she could even appear in the movies to bridge the gap between the eras, much like Judi Dench did inCasino Royale.
3Commander James Bond TV Show
A Prequel Series About Bond’s Time In The Navy
James Bond’s naval history is one of the most interesting things about Ian Fleming’s character, but it’s rarely been explored in the movies. This spin-off show could explore a more book-accurate version of the character, detailing the many adventures he had as a naval commander before becoming 007. It could also exist separately from the movies, asa younger version of Bond would need a different, younger actor.
2James Bond Origin Story
A Prequel Movie About How Bond Became 007
Throughout the James Bond movies, audiences have only been given brief hints of how James Bond became 007. Even in the first movies of each actor’s tenure,the character is usually pretty experienced and comfortable with his work. Including an “origin story” of sorts in Amazon’s upcoming slate would be an interesting and exciting addition to the James Bond canon, breaking up the timeline and giving audiences a break from constant sequels. The franchise has evenconsidered doing a James Bond prequelbefore, so this seems very likely.
1Classic Movie Remakes
Updated Versions Of Classic James Bond Movies
Remakes are all the rage in today’s cinematic climate, andit’s frankly surprising that nobody has tried to remake the ‘60s Bond moviesalready. However, with the main series of films firmly ended and no commitments in place to carry on the saga, now seems like the most probable time for it to happen. There are several aspects of these early movies that could be effectively updated for modern audiences, but Amazon would have to ensure they’re not seen to be erasing the franchise’s history.
James Bond
The James Bond franchise follows the adventures of British secret agent 007 as he combats global threats. With a license to kill, Bond faces off against various villains and criminal organizations, employing high-tech gadgets, espionage, and charm. The series spans multiple films, featuring exotic locations, thrilling action sequences, and memorable characters. Bond’s mission to protect the world and uphold justice remains central, making the franchise an enduring icon in the spy genre.
